Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai has vowed to work together with all “progressive” parties to bring change in the southern African country.
In a statement the MDC spokesperson Obert Gutu said that his party was not going to adapt a “big brother attitude” or “treat other opposition political parties as minions and fringe political operators”.
“In our quest to set up a new, democratic and developmental state in Zimbabwe, we are always willing to collaborate and synergise with all other democratic political parties, big or small. The MDC is convinced that all Zimbabweans deserve to live in a country that is peaceful and that is governed according to strict democratic principles where respect for the rule of law is sacrosanct,” Gutu said.
He said that the MDC was ready to work with with progressive forces in the country to make sure that electoral reforms were realised before the 2018 presidential elections.
Zimbabwe has seen a mounting tide of demonstrations in recent weeks, with the opposition and activists calling for the resignation of President Robert Mugabe.
‘Dictatorial tendencies’
Mugabe, 92, has been in power since 1980 when the country won independence.
Police have often used tear gas, water cannons and open violence to crash the protests.
Mugabe over the weekend accused Western countries of seeking to overthrow his government through violent protests.
Gutu claimed that the tide was now changing against the nonagenarian, as the country’s former liberation fighters had also joined in lambasting the veteran leader.
The war veterans recently rebuked the long-time leader, as they decried what they termed his “dictatorial tendencies”. They accused Mugabe of presiding over a declining economy.
The veterans of the country’s 1970s liberation war, and normally staunch allies of Mugabe, vowed that they would not support him if he sought re-election in 2018.
“We are pleased to note that genuine war veterans, with solid and impeccable liberation war credentials, have, of late, openly shown their appreciation and indeed, respect for the role that President Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC have played over the past seventeen years, in peacefully and bravely confronting the brutal Zanu-PF regime,” said Gutu.
