MDC-T national executive member, Eddie Cross, has
reportedly torched a tribal storm in Matabeleland region after he insinuated in
an opinion piece that Ndebele political leaders were divisive and viciously
opposed to the MDC Alliance.
Cross in an opinion titled Are our tribal roots still
relevant?, accused “Ndebele leaders” of being a threat to the formation of the
opposition parties’ coalition pact to challenge President Robert Mugabe and
Zanu PF in next year’s crunch polls.
“It has not been an easy road to walk, Ndebele interests
always wanted special recognition and representation and the influence of
tribal affiliation is found in all areas of the country — Chipinge with the
Ndau for example. Now suddenly the spectre of Ndebele nationalism is raising
its head again — a new “king” has been sworn in (the first in a 100 years), a
new alliance is proposed between various Ndebele and Zulu-dominated groups.
“Ndebele leaders in both Tendai Biti’s (People’s
Democractic Party (PDP) and the (Morgan Tsvangirai-led) MDC-T are demanding
special treatment and threatening to coalesce around a new separatist
Ndebele/Kalanga leadership,” Cross wrote.
“This is very dangerous and retrogressive and I hope the
MDC Alliance will reject this initiative and maintain its historical stance;
devolved power and control within a unitary State is the only way forward.
Anything else can only take us backward.”
His remarks were in response to recent divisions that have
rocked the MDC-T and PDP over the formation of the MDC Alliance, culminating in
the expulsion of party leader Tendai Biti last week.
The MDC-T has had its share of problems over the unveiling
of the MDC Alliance, with MDC-T opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his
deputy Thokozani Khupe at loggerheads over the coalition deal with other
opposition parties.
Incidentally, the resistance to the MDC Alliance has been
loud in Matabeleland, and Cross’ comments have drawn the ire of regional
analysts, who accused him of propagating “colonial propaganda that Whites came
to save Shonas from Ndebeles”.
“Cross is showing bias because there are always two sides
of the coin. He deliberately chooses to see Ndebele/Kalanga interests.
Again how are Ndebele/Kalanga interests derailing the
coalition? To be honest if we look at demographics of Zimbabwe that put the
population of Matabeleland at around 20%, it means Cross and his party should
logically win the national election without the Matabeleland vote but what’s
the situation on the ground?” questioned commentator Mlungusi Dube.
“MDC-T is getting over 40% of its support from the same
group of people, they are criticising. And again look at Eddie Cross
propagating colonial propaganda that Whites came to save Shonas from Ndebeles …
I would expect the MDC-T to weed out unrepentant Rhodesians like Eddie Cross.”
Former PDP Bulawayo spokesperson Fortune Mlalazi said the
comments were offensive and insulting to the Ndebele and Kalanga groupings.
“His utterances are offensive and insulting to Ndebele
people. His over-zealousness about the MDC Alliance makes him think that by
projecting injustice and identity which has been deliberately suppressed
heavily by Zanu PF, Ndebeles are being primitive,” he said.
“When certain quarters express reservations about the MDC
Alliance, Cross should understand that rushing to label us
regionalists/tribalists is a strategy coined by those who are trying hard to
give traction to their miscalculated, unpopular and egocentric agenda.
We demand an apology from Eddie Cross, who all along has
been honourable,” Mlalazi said.
Cross could not be reached for comment yesterday. newsday
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