New Zimbabwe.Com
By Senior Reporter
24th November 2014
A SENIOR MDC-T member has said the party is contemplating negotiations with the MDC Renewal Team ahead of the 2018 elections.
The official said they have told party leader Morgan Tsvangirai to “swallow his pride†and engage their former colleagues who broke away in April this year.
Former secretary general Tendai Biti walked out of the MDC-T party in protest over what he alleged were Tsvangirai’s dictatorial tendencies.
The MDC-T official who requested anonymity said Tsvangirai was planning to approach the Biti and Welshman Ncube-led entities for negotiations aimed at the reunification of the party.
“What he needs, at least, if he fails to lure Biti, is to get the Renewal Team’s endorsement, but we, at most ,need all the former MDC members to re-join the party and this is the path we are on,†said the official.
“The truth of the matter is that without unity we will not dislodge Zanu PF (from power) and history has taught us that.â€
The official said they told Tsvangirai that he needed to “swallow his pride†and “come to terms with our colleagues†in the breakaway factions.
“Yes, we might have our differences but we told the President that we need to compromise,†he said.
“As I am telling you, at the weekend, the president talked to David Coltart and they discussed some of these issues.
“I cannot divulge what was agreed as the way forward because we might compromise the negotiations which are in the infancy stage.â€
Contacted for comment, Jacob Mafume, the MDC Renewal Team spokesperson said: “There are a number of housekeeping issues that the MDC-T needs to address before they start any conversation.
“One of these issues regards the centralisation of power in one person. They need to start the conversation among themselves and see the trajectory on which they are going.
“If the old Tsvangirai, who was no stranger to democracy, resurrects we find no problems dealing with him, not the current Tsvangirai who is a copycat of Mugabe.â€