Call for inter-party unity

Comment & Analysis
BY NQOBANI NDLOVUBULAWAYO — Civic groups in Matabeleland have called for a unity pact among the structures of political parties in the region to ensure a united movement for the development of the under-developed province.

According to Bulawayo Agenda, multi-party democracy has not brought development to Matabeleland, hence the need for Zanu-PF, MDC, MDC-T and Zapu to unite on the cause for the betterment of lives of Matabeleland people and the region.

Thabani Nyoni, the Executive Director of Bulawayo Agenda on Friday said, as a result, the local- based civic organisation had begun a process of facilitating dialogue between structures of political parties in Matabeleland to forge a united front for development.

“We have been holding consultative meetings in the region and the major highlight on these meetings is the need for political parties that campaign in Matabeleland to come up with a political pact.

“As Bulawayo Agenda, we feel that issue is very important and we are now facilitating dialogue among political parties centred around that because as much as we support multi-party democracy, we feel this should also translate into meaningful change of people’s lives,” Nyoni said in an interview.

Calls for a united front amongst political parties have however been met with resistance from the Welshman Ncube led MDC which recently said it does not exist for the purposes of forming coalitions but to contest political power.

According to Bulawayo Agenda, its consultative meetings and research also show that devolution of power has been a major call by political parties and civic groups in the region.