A member of MDC-Alliance party Mr David Coltart has said
the opposition party has a problem of labelling members that show ambition to
contest for posts Zanu-PF agents.
Mr Coltart last week told CBNC Africa that the fake
infiltration narrative has been commonly used in the MDC to suppress those
harbouring ambitions.
MDC-Alliance secretary general Mr Douglas Mwonzora has been
labelled an in-plant of Zanu-PF after he made public his intention to challenge
Mr Nelson Chamisa for the post of president at the party’s congress set for
May.
Mr Coltart said the narrative that has become common in the
opposition party is a blunt lie. There have been attempts to link Mr Mwonzora
to Zanu-PF but the ruling party has distanced itself from the allegations
saying it has no time to meddle in opposition politics.
Mr Mwonzora, has been receiving a barrage of insults and
threats from party officials intent on scuppering his campaign.
“It is critically important that we approach that contest
in a mature fashion. We should stop this behaviour whereby each time someone
puts his or her head up above the pulpit to challenge a position, he or she is
accused of being a Zanu-PF agent. I don’t believe the allegations against
Douglas and I hope the rhetoric will end,” said Mr Coltart.
He pledged support for Mr Chamisa but said this should not
stop Mr Mwonzora from throwing his hat in the ring.
“I know Douglas Mwonzora very well. I respect him because
he has done a very good job as the secretary general and if we are a democratic
party, anyone must be allowed to contest for any position.
“However, I think that Nelson Chamisa has revived the party
and he enjoys grassroots support, hence I back him. But Douglas has the right
to contest,” he said.
Despite presenting itself as a “democratic party of
excellence”, the MDC has been at pains to eliminate any challenge to Mr
Chamisa’s position at congress.
MDC-Alliance deputy president, Engineer Elias Mudzuri, is
also viewed as another potential contender for the presidency.
Mr Coltart said the opposition party which controls most
urban local authorities should demonstrate its capacity to preside over public
affairs. MDC-run councils have been accused of failing to provide services
despite residents paying for these services.
“I think that is the big challenge for the MDC, going
forward in the next four years, we have won every single urban centre, we now
have a challenge to demonstrate that we can deliver,” said Mr Coltart. Chronicle
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