New political party seen contesting Zimbabwe election

New political party seen contesting Zimbabwe election

MUGABE and Tsvangirai

• Jonathan Moyo: Why Mugabe should go now

• Moyo says Mugabe engaged in 'sunset politics'

• Grace Kwinjeh: 'Third force' or counter revolutionary claptrap?

• YOUR SHOUTS: Nyarota, Ncube have lost their bearings

• Brighton Musonza: Trevor and Geoff spread confusion

• Lance Guma: Trevor has lost the plot

• Ncube: Zimbabwe needs 'third way' solution

• Nyarota: Time may be ripe for third force

By Staff Reporter

WIDENING rifts within the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and growing public disillusionment with Zanu PF are propelling the emergence of a new opposition party in Zimbabwe.

A media campaign is already underway by the proponents of the "third force" or "third way" project which is also backed by former information minister Jonathan Moyo, MP.

The 'third way' option has also been endorsed by two prominent journalists, Geoffrey Nyarota and Trevor Ncube, who say the MDC has failed to mobilise around Zanu PF's unpopularity.

The MDC has lost two parliamentary elections and a presidential poll with Tsvangirai at the helm. In recent weeks, the party has been riven by divisions over what course of action to follow, with a growing feeling that Tsvangirai has lost the spirit to fight.

Writing in the Zimbabwe Independent last week, Moyo provided the clearest indication yet that planning for the new party was at an advanced stage. Moyo believes there are senior figures within both the MDC and Zanu PF who are ready to jump ship and join the cross-party movement.

"Mugabe is now a leader of a shelf party that exists only in name, even with those seemingly high numbers in parliament because, in real terms, the hearts and minds of the bulk of its members have ideologically emigrated to a new all-inclusive third way beyond current party boundaries," Moyo wrote.

The shaping up of the new party was boosted by the resignation of Zanu PF central committee member and former MP Pearson Mbalekwa two weeks ago. It is thought that more senior Zanu PF officials will follow Mbalekwa as the presidential elections set for 2008 draw closer.

Sources close to Moyo, a former university lecturer and leading African academic, said he had no interest in leading the new party, preferring instead to be a strategist.

"Moyo's view is that when the party is finally set-up, a popular candidate should be elected, whatever their background. He believes that if that candidate is backed by all opposition groups, Zanu PF can be voted out of office. He has no interest in leading this new party," said the source.

Nyarota, also writing in the Zimbabwe Independent, said: "The forces campaigning against Mugabe's dictatorship lack cohesion and unity of purpose. The MDC has ceased to be a homogenous organisation. The proposed third force would seek to overcome this deep-seated fear of Zanu PF."

Nyarota, The Daily News' founding editor, said Moyo's "credentials and qualities would contribute to national development if properly utilised or harnessed."

And Ncube added: "As currently constituted and led, both Zanu PF and the MDC don't have what it takes to extricate Zimbabwe from its present quagmire. The possibility of a third way is something worth contemplating."

Popular political commentator and New Zimbabwe.com columnist, Chido Makunike, has also added his voice, saying the MDC had failed to gain capital from Mugabe's unpopularity.

"Despite the MDC's many and increasing weaknesses," wrote Makunike, "Mugabe has inadvertently laid the foundation for the inevitable eventual emergence of a stronger, broad-based new opposition to him."

Mugabe has been in power for a quarter of a century, his rule built around a fearsome dominance of his party and ruthless suppression of opponents. His popularity is however, at an all time low against the backdrop of a failing economy and unpopular policies foisted on the population.

Tsvangirai, on the other hand, rose to the leadership of the MDC on the back of paralysing nationwide job boycotts while he was secretary general of the main labour movement in Zimbabwe.
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