OPPOSITION leader Nelson Chamisa’s MDC Alliance has turned
its focus on rebuilding the party ahead of the 2023 general elections with a
focus on wooing the rural vote.
This was after High Court judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi on
Friday ruled in favour of Thokozani Khupe’s MDC-T.
Early last week, Justice Munangati Manongwa ruled that MDC
Alliance was a legal entity, but Justice Chitapi on Friday said he was not
bound by that finding and ruled that the party was not a legal entity capable
of suing or being sued.
Party officials said they were confused that two different
High Court judges came up with two different interpretations about the status of the same
entity.
“We now have to build for 2023 or they will have us arguing
over the name until 2023 and secure themselves power and keep the people of
Zimbabwe in perpetual poverty,” an official said.
Although MDC Alliance legislators — Chalton Hwende, Lillian
Timveous, Prosper Mutseyami and Tabitha Khumalo— still have cases pending
before the High Court seeking to reverse their recall from Parliament, the
party said it had lost faith in the courts.
Party deputy secretary for local Jacob Mafume summed up the
mood in Chamisa’s corner.
“The Judiciary is clear where it will go, every
technicality, whether we are applicants or respondents, will be used against
us. A missing comma or full stopis near fatal to our cases. My president is
Nelson Chamisa and my party MDC Alliance. The people must answer,” Mafume said.
Already, the party is itching for byelections in the areas
for the recalled legislators to test the ground.
This follows reports that Khupe plans to withdraw more
legislators, with Highfield legislator Happymore Chidziva being one of the
targets. Chidziva was recently appointed secretary for rural mobilisation by
Chamisa in a reshuffle last Friday.
“Those who don’t attend Parliament and continue to boycott
will be withdrawn immediately,” said a source close to Mwonzora.
Officially, Mwonzora said he would not be recalling
legislators who respected the code of conduct of the MDC-T.
“We don’t exist to recall MPs. It is not our intention to
victimise anyone, it is not our intention to recall people just like that.
Those people who will be recalled are those people who would have committed
offences and the offences are there, well-documented in our constitution,” he
said.
“We will be measured in our response, we will not be
retributive. We are not a vindictive leadership. We do not exist to victimise
Members of Parliament, we exist to deliver the people of Zimbabwe from poverty
and misery.”
MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said they would
only stop pushing when they lost the people’s confidence.
“We will keep pushing and fighting for justice, a better
life for the people ofZimbabwe and against corruption. As long as we have the
trust from the people, we will continue because ultimately,it is about the
people,” she said.
Chamisa told NewsDay that he preferred to focus on issues that
would change lives instead of wasting resources on small things that won’t
change the political discourse.
“We want things that change the lives of the people, we
should push to get into government and effectively change
our people’s lives, that are the ultimate goals,” the MDC
Alliance leader said. Newsday
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