New+MDC+faction+leader+enters+arena+talking+tough,+B+Day

Business Day, Johannesburg, 27 February 2006
=New MDC faction leader enters arena talking tough=


 * Dumisani Muleya, Harare Correspondent**

THE newly elected leader of one of the rival factions of Zimbabwean opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Prof Arthur Mutambara, vowed in Bulawayo yesterday to fight President Robert Mugabe’s regime “tooth and nail”.

SA-based Mutambara said yesterday there was a great need for nationwide mobilisation of different parties and groups — including a reunited MDC — to create a critical mass to confront Mugabe’s government over political repression and the economic crisis in Zimbabwe.

He said the way forward was a “total de-legitimatise strategy” to dislodge Mugabe from power, which hinted at a drive by his faction to weaken the president’s already compromised legitimacy.

Mutambara also said he might move to Zimbabwe from SA to head the anti-Mugabe campaign.

“We are putting Robert Mugabe and his regime on notice: we are going to fight you tooth, nail and claw. We will use all tools of the struggle at our disposal, including jambanja (confrontation),” Mutambara told journalists at a press conference.

“Our agenda is very clear: to fight and defeat the Zanu (PF) regime and become the next government. We will work with all other democratic forces to achieve this.”

The MDC is divided into two factions, one now led by Mutambara and the other by the party’s founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. Before Mutambara’s election, the camp was led by Tsvangirai former deputy Gibson Sibanda.

Mutambara, a former student leader, National Aeronautics and Space Administration researcher and professor of robotics and mechanotrics, was elected to lead his faction together with his deputy Gibson Sibanda, chairman Gift Chimanikire, secretary -general Welshman Ncube, deputy secretary-general Priscilla Misihairambwi and treasurer Fletcher Dulini Ncube.

Other former student leaders, Morgan Changamire and Gift Nyandoro were elected national executive member and youth leader, respectively.

The MDC split last October over a controversial senate election. Mutambara said although he now lead a faction which participated in the election, he was against the poll.

“My position was that the MDC should have boycotted those senate elections. Not only that, I want total withdrawal from parliament and all other election-based institutions,” he said. “This would have constituted a consistent and effective regime de-legitimisation strategy.”

“We stand opposed to any form of imperialism, violation of state rights and unilateralism,” he said. “We will make a clear distinction between strategic partners and political allies.”

Asked about President Thabo Mbeki’s policy on Zimbabwe, Mutambara said Mbeki had the right as part of his foreign policy to talk to whoever he chose.

He said he supported an equitable and just land reform programme, not the current chaotic and vindictive one.

In a clear attempt at rapprochement, Mutambara said he was willing to work with Tsvangirai. “I said I’m prepared to work with those pursuing a democratic agenda and I’m not sure whether Mugabe is doing that,” he said when asked if he could open talks with Mugabe.

On Saturday Sibanda told a congress in Bulawayo that Tsvangirai was “the former president” who had been sacked for violating the party’s constitution and that the two warring camps could not mix.

But Mutambara called for unity and cohesion in the political opposition.

“A reunification framework and strategy must be established immediately,” he said.


 * From: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/world.aspx?ID=BD4A161079**

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