NATIONAL People’s Party (NPP) leader, Joice Mujuru has roped in several
opposition leaders, among them MDC-T president, Morgan Tsvangirai, to
grace her party’s inaugural convention in Harare today, as part of
efforts to keep the coalition talks on track.
Tsvangirai’s spokesperson, Luke Tamborinyoka yesterday
confirmed that his boss would attend the NPP convention, but “as a friend”.
“President Morgan Tsvangirai has been invited to the NPP
convention tomorrow (today) and he intends to go there as a friend and speak in
solidarity. We are very much aware as to the source of the crisis that we face
as a country and the source of that crisis is none other than President Robert
Mugabe and Zanu PF,” Tamborinyoka said.
“Moreover, president Tsvangirai is going there as leader of
the MDC Alliance, with the intention of witnessing the solidification of yet
another political institution that we are currently in discussion with in line
with the demands of the unification of the democratic voices.
“Those bilateral talks are still to be concluded and
president Tsvangirai will be going there as a friend and not as an enemy or
competitor.”
NPP secretary-general-designate, Gift Nyandoro also
confirmed Tsvangirai’s attendance and described the convention as historic.
“The day is historic because it is going to be a day where
NPP has invited friends and we have sent out written and electronic invitations
to all the political opposition parties we perceive to be pro-democracy.
“We have equally invited civic society, we believe they are
the public watchdog of processes, which are done in the name of democracy and
we have nothing to hide, so we have invited them,” he said, adding various heads
of church denominations, student bodies and trade unions had confirmed their
participation.
“Tomorrow (today) is an historic day in the following
regards: Firstly, the NPP will officially and legally be given birth. Secondly,
this is the first time that the NPP is going to make a public announcement in
terms of depth and substance with regard to what it stands for as a party whose
origins are rooted in the war of liberation ideology.
“Thirdly, it is tomorrow (today) that the NPP is going to
send a clear message that the journey to finish the unfinished story of the
liberation ideals, their fulfilment and total implementation has begun.
“So key from the president’s message would be to give
Zimbabweans the political map and economic map of how to extricate our country
from the number of problems that it is being engulfed in.
“Fourthly, tomorrow (today) is the day where the elected
and appointed national leadership of the party is going to be confirmed.”
The convention cames at a time when there are fears of mass
exodus from the fledgling party, owing to differences in ideology.
There are high hopes that Tsvangirai’s attendance would
reignite chances of broadening the opposition parties’ envisaged electoral
alliance ahead of the 2018 elections. This is despite the fact that Mujuru
snubbed the signing ceremony for the MDC Alliance attended by seven opposition
leaders at the weekend. newsday
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