Amicable Divorce

Letter from Tendai Biti (Secretary General, MDC) to David Coltart

Dear David

I refer to your letter dated 17th February 2006 addressed to President Morgan Tsvangirai in his personal and individual capacity, which letter as I have pointed out to you, I have not read or been privy too.

I am aware however from newspaper reports and articles that you are allegedly “attempting to broker a divorce” between and in the MDC.

In my view even assuming that there was wisdom, need and justification for such an effort, a point that I express no opinion on, I doubt that given the publicity thus far, there is any value or potential in the newspaper attempt referred above. In my experience genuine and bona fide dialogue will never take place in the public domain.

Furthermore in my experience any mediator must surely be impartial, independent and distant from a dispute. By any measure you are not distant or neutral, unless of course you are no longer a member of the MDC.

I trust that this puts paid to this issue.

Yours faithfully

Tendai Biti
MDC Secretary General

Reply from David Coltart to Tendai Biti (Secretary General, MDC)

Dear Tendai,

Thank you for your letter dated the 2nd May 2006.

I am not going to respond to the points you have made because even though I take issue with them, no purpose will be served in me doing so. Suffice it to say that my letter was written to Morgan Tsvangirai on the 20th February 2006, not the 17th February, in his official capacity as President of the MDC. In the circumstances it was not written to him in his personal capacity.

It is a great shame that you have not managed even to read the 5 page letter before responding to it. Had you read it you would have seen that I specifically asked that the letter be tabled before your National Executive which apparently did not happen. Had you read the letter you would have seen that the issues raised in your letter to me today were anticipated by me and addressed.

As this letter has been written in your capacity as Secretary General I take it that it represents the official view and policy.

Finally I note that the Tsvangirai faction of the MDC does not want to avail itself of my offer to assist in a mediation process.

Best wishes,

David Coltart MP
MDC
Bulawayo South

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