NATIONAL People’s Party (NPP) leader Joice Mujuru yesterday
claimed that she failed to attend the opposition parties’ alliance signing
ceremony in Harare on Saturday because she was not invited to the event.
Mujuru’s spokesperson, Gift Nyandoro said contrary to
speculative reports that she had snubbed the event, the former Vice-President
wanted to be among other opposition leaders that signed the coalition deal to
challenge President Robert Mugabe’s hegemony.
“We could not invite ourselves to a dinner we were not
invited… that seven political parties launched their coalition at Zimbabwe
Grounds in our absence denotes their democratic right and that does not affect
our coalition talks with the MDC-T,” he said.
The Saturday event saw MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai being
endorsed as coalition leader at a ceremony attended by People’s Democratic
Party (PDP) leader Tendai Biti and MDC’s Welshman Ncube, among others.
But sources privy to the negotiations said Mujuru boycotted
the event following her alleged fallout with Tsvangirai over terms of the pact.
“The offers in the coalition talks are hinged on facing
Mugabe as the united MDC which will include Ncube, Biti and other political
parties and Mujuru was supposed to be part of this alliance, but she is opposed
to the name. She is also unhappy that she is being offered the position of
second vice-president in the coalition and, therefore, spurned the August 5
launch,” an NPP insider said.
NPP is also growing uneasy after the PDP jumped into bed
with Tsvangirai at a time they were also courting the same party.
“The fact that Biti chose Tsvangirai ahead of Mujuru
weakens the NPP considerably in the coalition talks and there is now panic and
discontent in the camp, I can tell you all is not well in our camp,” the source
added.
PDP spokesperson, Jacob Mafume said his party will continue
engaging NPP despite the weekend snub.
MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu declined to comment on the
Mujuru’s no-show at the signing ceremony.
Meanwhile, Mujuru’s deputy Samuel Sipepa Nkomo is likely to
face a stern test at the party’s inaugural convention at City Sports Stadium in
Harare on Wednesday amid reports that some party members were plotting to block
his confirmation.
Nkomo, a former MDC-T legislator, faces accusations of
fanning divisions in the party.
“There are people who are unhappy over Nkomo taking the
seat of the vice-presidency and they plan to scuttle his confirmation at the
convention,” the source said.
Divisions have also rocked the NPP structures in Bulawayo
and Harare amid reports that members were resisting moves to introduce
membership cards to raise funds. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment