Tsvangirai forms alliance with Welshman Ncube- promises o contest elections as one unit

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai today signed a memorandum of understanding with Welshman Ncube, leader of the smaller faction of the MDC, and vowed to “harness and combine our known electoral strength to face our common opponent as a united front”. 

In a statement, Tsvangirai said he hand Ncube, the first secretary general of the MDC, had learnt their lessons especially the cost of vote splitting.

“Fellow Zimbabweans, for change to come we all have a part to play,” he said.

“The most critical role that you must play wherever you are is to register to vote so that you can participate in shaping the destiny of your own country and securing the future of your children by voting for change.

“Failure to do so would mean that you are voting for the perpetuation of our current suffering.”

The MDC-T leader said it would also be equally dishonest not to recognize the mistakes he and Ncube had made in the past.

“We split our party in 2005. The cost of that vote splitting in addition to the blatant manipulation of results was delayed change for the people of Zimbabwe in 2008,” he said.

“It takes humble leadership to accept one’s mistakes but it takes bold leadership to correct those mistakes.

“It is in this respect that I am both relieved and pleased to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Professor Ncube, as a first step towards undoing the damage we caused ourselves.

“Today, Professor Ncube and I will open a new chapter and craft a political agreement that should see us harness and combine our known electoral strength to face our common opponent as a united front. 

“If anyone in this country expects us to contest the next elections separately as we did in 2008 and 2013 and expect a different result, it will not only be a third moment of real madness, but the highest form of insanity and none of us is insane.”

Tsvangirai signed a similar agreement with Joice Mujuruof the National People's Party yesterday.

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