HARARE – Newly-elected MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora appeared to reach out to MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa.
Speaking at his first press briefing as president of the MDC-T at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, Mwonzora said Chamisa was not an enemy
“The National Council will sit in January as extension to the just-ended congress to discuss further issues and national dialogue. Chamisa, Biti, Welshman or Mnangagwa are not my enemies, the real enemies are poverty and ignorance,” he said.
He also dismissed charges that he is working with Zanu-PF to decimate the opposition. Still, he said he was willing to work with the ruling party for the good of the nation.
“I don’t need to be on the payroll of Zanu-PF at all. This is what opponents who are trying to discredit you do. I do not become a member of Zanu-PF just because I have disagreed with you,” the MDC-T leader said.
Announcing the MDC-T as “the government in waiting,” Mwonzora said he will “work professionally with Zanu-PF” in proffering robust solutions to the myriad of problems facing Zimbabwe.
Mwonzora on Sunday polled 883 votes to Thokozani Khupe’s miserly 118 votes, to become the opposition party president.
Morgen Komichi and Elias Mudzuri got nine and 14 votes in a poll marred by allegations of vote rigging and violence with Khupe being slapped by a yet to be identified MDC-T official. Mwonzora has condemned the violence insisting a commission of enquiry will investigate the matter.
“We are the government in waiting. What we demand from them (Zanu-PF) is what we will ask them to demand from us when we become the government,” Mwonzora said.
He insisted that the direction that the party will take will dispel rumours of an unholy alliance between himself and the ruling party.
“Our relationship will be non-toxic. Our leadership will not insult anyone but it will be an effective opposition. We assure Zimbabweans that working together with Zanu-PF, we will not be working for Zanu-PF,” he said.
“Our leadership has enormous responsibility. First we have to unite the party. We want to rebuild this movement.”
He added that he is for national dialogue.
“I have said (Nelson) Chamisa is not my enemy. Welshman Ncube is not my enemy. Tenda Biti is not my enemy. Managua is not my enemy. My enemy is poverty. My enemy is the unemployment. My enemy are the deliberating issues,” he said.