Donors are reportedly putting pressure on Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai to join forces with expelled former Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front Vice-President Joice Mujuru or lose their funding.
According to NewZimbabwe.Com, the donors feel that the two would have a better chance of dislodging President Robert Mugabe.
Tsvangirai has failed to dislodge the 91-year old over the past 15 years though he beat him at the polls in 2008. The electoral commission, however, said Tsvangirai had not won sufficient votes to secure a victory and ordered a run-off. Tsvangirai pulled out of because of violence that saw about 200 people being killed during the campaign for the run-off.
According to NewZimbabwe.Com, donors are said to take the view that although the former premier boasts mass appeal that rivals Mugabe, Mujuru brings to the electoral contest what “Tsvangirai and the MDC do not have” and that is impeccable liberation credentials.
MDC-T spokesperson, Obert Gutu, told NewZimbabwe.Com that he was not aware of any approach for his boss to join up with Mujuru.
“The MDC is an independent social democratic and Pan-Africanist political party whose agenda is not donor driven. As a political party, we are ready and willing to cooperate with any like-minded political parties. However, we will not be swayed and/hoodwinked by any people whose agenda is not focused on bringing about meaningful and sustainable democratic change to the Zimbabwean political architecture. We are not position-oriented; we are principle and ideas-oriented,” Gutu said.
Tsvangirai is in Europe, probably looking for financial support.
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