Failed reunification, my account of what I experienced that tragic weekend
Stella Allberry, National Executive -Secretary for Health, MDC (Mutambara)
7 February 2008
When our National Council ( MDC Arthur Mutambara ) was requested to attend an extraordinary National Council Meeting for the reunification process, there were mixed emotions as we travelled to Harare.
Many of us had been deeply hurt in the last couple of years, and quite frankly were proud to be part of a sincere and principled group that were of one heart and vision, working tirelessly for the betterment of our country. We all knew that for the sake of all our beloved Zimbabweans we had to do all that was in our power to have a united front against Mugabe to free the people of Zimbabwe.
We were secure that we would make the right decision. Ten of our top leadership had been working again on some type of agreement (the last one a coalition agreement had been rejected by the Tsvangirai formation in April last year). This was a reunification agreement. On Saturday morning we were presented with a document that the top ten from both parties had agreed upon. They told of endless debates being held until the early hours of many mornings, saying they faced the hardest negotiations of their lives.
The document they showed us a fully comprehensive one and I attach it here so you may see for yourself what it is all about. The reunification process seemed fair and just in every way and culminating in a reunification congress shortly after elections dissolving both parties and making one reunited MDC. We debated vigorously but sensibly. Our concerns though were few and not too major. Our unity was incredibly evident, with our desire for freedom and an end to the suffering of our nation being our focus.
The new seats allocation between the two formations was a little disappointing for our side, effectively giving the Tsvangirai formation approximately 70% in 6 provinces, 50% in 1 province and 30% in the 3 Matabeleland provinces, but we recognised that all agreements require a considerable amount of compromise and tolerance. By 12 midday we had adopted the agreement and were ready to meet with the other team and sign it into being. I even had a romantic notion of the two leaders holding clasped hands up in the air to a roar of Chinja Maitiro ...... Instead we waited for four hours while the Tsvangirai formation debated.
Eventually our top ten were called back into negotiations. The Tsvangirai formation's National Council had been debating at the same time as us and could not accept what their top ten had negotiated for them. From 4pm until 8 30 pm we waited and were then told that the Tsvangirai formation were sticking over the point of wanting to have two more seats in Bulawayo. We had already compromised in other areas- for example we had agreed to only have 28% of seats in Harare, even though we were entitled in terms of our agreement to at least 33%.
Arthur had asked them to please make a decision one way or the other by the next morning, as we just could not debate further. The Tsvangirai formation's Bulawayo contingency were, it seemed, really fighting the process, and I couldn't help but cry in my heart: " Please, please remember the bigger picture for the people." Sunday morning our leadership called us in and we heard that the Tsvangirai Formation had brought an entirely new and different demand to the table. Funnily enough the Sunday Mail newspaper heard before us.
We were told that the Tsvangirai formation wanted 50 % of all the Matabeleland and Bulawayo seats, including those where our MPs were already sitting and further they would not guarantee not fielding in the other 50%! Taking 26 and then halving the voters in the other half! Where was the good will towards a uniting MDC? We were blown away! A few of us women cried and I even had an opportunity of saying with a broken heart "Do we give it to them to stop the suffering of the people?" But even as I said it, I thought what will we be doing for the people of Zimbabwe?
If we give them greedy MPs who think only of themselves anyway, are we not betraying them more? Arthur and Welshman ( our Secretary General ) both looked me directly in my face and asked if I had an idea of what to do and said they had tried their absolute hardest...... The press conference was given and we are going alone. I see that Eddie Cross has written of the gloom in our camp. Yes, that is true, but not because we cried for ourselves. There is no doubt that our gloom was shared by millions of patriotic Zimbabweans who hoped that people would put personal interests aside for National interest- something that the Tsvangirai formation has failed to do.
Eddie also has written that the decision not to form a united front was" received favourably across the nation.." Whilst I have no doubt it was received favourably in State House and by Zanu PF throughout the nation, I think the truth is that most reasonable Zimbabweans were deeply disappointed. Yes Eddie, we are very very sad, but not for ourselves. In fact, to stand with principled people is the greatest honour of my life.
I will never stop fighting this regime as long as I have breath in my body and I have no feeling of guilt or shame in the choices we have made because we gave it our best shot. We must now take on the brutal Zanu Pf regime divided - but we will do so with courage and determination
Image Source::http://www.inkundla.net/images
Image no t part of original statement by Stella. Mazheve's placement
Stella Allberry, National Executive -Secretary for Health, MDC (Mutambara)
7 February 2008
When our National Council ( MDC Arthur Mutambara ) was requested to attend an extraordinary National Council Meeting for the reunification process, there were mixed emotions as we travelled to Harare.
Many of us had been deeply hurt in the last couple of years, and quite frankly were proud to be part of a sincere and principled group that were of one heart and vision, working tirelessly for the betterment of our country. We all knew that for the sake of all our beloved Zimbabweans we had to do all that was in our power to have a united front against Mugabe to free the people of Zimbabwe.We were secure that we would make the right decision. Ten of our top leadership had been working again on some type of agreement (the last one a coalition agreement had been rejected by the Tsvangirai formation in April last year). This was a reunification agreement. On Saturday morning we were presented with a document that the top ten from both parties had agreed upon. They told of endless debates being held until the early hours of many mornings, saying they faced the hardest negotiations of their lives.
The document they showed us a fully comprehensive one and I attach it here so you may see for yourself what it is all about. The reunification process seemed fair and just in every way and culminating in a reunification congress shortly after elections dissolving both parties and making one reunited MDC. We debated vigorously but sensibly. Our concerns though were few and not too major. Our unity was incredibly evident, with our desire for freedom and an end to the suffering of our nation being our focus.
The new seats allocation between the two formations was a little disappointing for our side, effectively giving the Tsvangirai formation approximately 70% in 6 provinces, 50% in 1 province and 30% in the 3 Matabeleland provinces, but we recognised that all agreements require a considerable amount of compromise and tolerance. By 12 midday we had adopted the agreement and were ready to meet with the other team and sign it into being. I even had a romantic notion of the two leaders holding clasped hands up in the air to a roar of Chinja Maitiro ...... Instead we waited for four hours while the Tsvangirai formation debated.
Eventually our top ten were called back into negotiations. The Tsvangirai formation's National Council had been debating at the same time as us and could not accept what their top ten had negotiated for them. From 4pm until 8 30 pm we waited and were then told that the Tsvangirai formation were sticking over the point of wanting to have two more seats in Bulawayo. We had already compromised in other areas- for example we had agreed to only have 28% of seats in Harare, even though we were entitled in terms of our agreement to at least 33%.
Arthur had asked them to please make a decision one way or the other by the next morning, as we just could not debate further. The Tsvangirai formation's Bulawayo contingency were, it seemed, really fighting the process, and I couldn't help but cry in my heart: " Please, please remember the bigger picture for the people." Sunday morning our leadership called us in and we heard that the Tsvangirai Formation had brought an entirely new and different demand to the table. Funnily enough the Sunday Mail newspaper heard before us.
We were told that the Tsvangirai formation wanted 50 % of all the Matabeleland and Bulawayo seats, including those where our MPs were already sitting and further they would not guarantee not fielding in the other 50%! Taking 26 and then halving the voters in the other half! Where was the good will towards a uniting MDC? We were blown away! A few of us women cried and I even had an opportunity of saying with a broken heart "Do we give it to them to stop the suffering of the people?" But even as I said it, I thought what will we be doing for the people of Zimbabwe?
If we give them greedy MPs who think only of themselves anyway, are we not betraying them more? Arthur and Welshman ( our Secretary General ) both looked me directly in my face and asked if I had an idea of what to do and said they had tried their absolute hardest...... The press conference was given and we are going alone. I see that Eddie Cross has written of the gloom in our camp. Yes, that is true, but not because we cried for ourselves. There is no doubt that our gloom was shared by millions of patriotic Zimbabweans who hoped that people would put personal interests aside for National interest- something that the Tsvangirai formation has failed to do.
Eddie also has written that the decision not to form a united front was" received favourably across the nation.." Whilst I have no doubt it was received favourably in State House and by Zanu PF throughout the nation, I think the truth is that most reasonable Zimbabweans were deeply disappointed. Yes Eddie, we are very very sad, but not for ourselves. In fact, to stand with principled people is the greatest honour of my life.
I will never stop fighting this regime as long as I have breath in my body and I have no feeling of guilt or shame in the choices we have made because we gave it our best shot. We must now take on the brutal Zanu Pf regime divided - but we will do so with courage and determination
Image Source::http://www.inkundla.net/images
Image no t part of original statement by Stella. Mazheve's placement
