Tsvangirai: Parties on opposition’s future

Payback time … Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene

Similarly, Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) spokesperson Rugare Gumbo dismissed suggestions Tsvangirai’s situation presented his party’s leader Joice Mujuru with a golden opportunity to assume leadership.

The two high profile politicians’ names have emerged strongly as the most likely candidates to assume leadership of the multi-party arrangement, which is intended to give the opposition numerical advantage over common enemy, Zanu PF.

Tsvangirai revealed recently he was battling colon cancer.

The former Prime Minister has since withdrawn from public life to concentrate on his recovery.

Critics say because of the nature of the disease, the once firebrand trade unionist turned opposition strongman could lose his cutting edge, a trait that has made him the face of Zimbabwe’s painstaking pursuit for democracy for nearly 16 years.

Coupled with courage and traceable grassroots support, Tsvangirai was viewed as having a slight and crucial edge over the country’s former Vice President whose long association with Zanu PF and a shorter stint with opposition politics put her a step below her fellow contender.

Unlike Mujuru, critics say, Tsvangirai bears the scars under the ruthless Mugabe regime and that, put in his CV, gave him the much needed head start.

“You don’t accumulate a brand of being the face of the opposition overnight. That brand might be to his advantage,” said Harare based political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya in an interview with NewZimbabwe.com.

He adds: “It (illness) derails him. His bid for leading the coalition has been rattled and shaken. It remains to be seen if he can sustain the gruelling campaign for 2018.”

But MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu refused to accept that Tsvangirai’s ailment presents a totally different dynamic to opposition politics and that it knocks him out of the ring without even throwing the first punch.

Reports say the main opposition is at sixes and sevens on what to do in light of Tsvangirai condition.

“Morgan Tsvangirai is the real deal,” Gutu quipped.

“He is an indefatigable politician who commands incredible popular support amongst millions of Zimbabweans.”

Gutu said it was too early to speak about a Tsvangirai exit.

“Tsvangirai is a big game player and anyone who thinks that he will not fully recover from his illness is obviously chasing shadows. The man will be around for a very long time to come. Trust me!”

Rugare Gumbo, on his part, said Tsvangirai’s cancer was detected early and “there is a possibility that he may survive and be able to re-join the mainstream struggle”.

“With respect to Joice taking over if something happened to Tsvangirai, its safe for me to say that it is the people who will decide and it is the various organisations that decide whether she takes the lead or not.

“So all I can say is that currently it is all a matter of speculation as to who will do what and unfortunately as you know me I am not one of those people who believe in speculation, I believe in reality.”

Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandi Chimene appeared to celebrate Tsvangirai’s condition, saying it payback time for the MDC-T leader.

“Tsvangirai is suffering with cancer; it’s payback time for wishing President Robert Mugabe to die, but Mugabe does not have cancer. Who are we to questions God’s will? Why opposing our president who is 92 years old? l would even sacrifice for my president by giving him my 20 years and l will die,’’ she said, according to a local weekly.

“If you look at his [Tsvangirai’s] face, that is what is in his brains. He is not appealing. He is ugly. You should not vote for him because he is a loser,’’ Chimene said.