Staff ReporterTHE leader of the MDC Alliance, Morgan Tsvangirai, on Saturday made a veiled attack on his deputy Thokozani Khupe for promoting ethnicity in the country.
Speaking at the MDC Alliance launch in Bulawayo, Tsvangirai, in an apparent reference to Khupe who boycotted the launch, said Zimbabwe should never be divided along ethinic lines.
“I am concerned about one issue. Since we started opposition parties in this country, we have never talked about ethnicity. I am surprised but the reason is very simple.
“It is because Mugabe (President Robert Mugabe) and the nationalists have failed to form a nation that everyone feel is part of. I am very concerned that we are now dividing ourselves along ethnicity lines,” said Tsvangirai in remarks widely believed to be directed at Khupe.
Khupe, alongside the party’s senior Bulawayo leader’s chairperson Lovemore Moyo and suspended national organising secretary, Abednico Bhebhe, boycotted the launch.
Khupe is on record criticising the alliance arguing that the party does not need any alliance in the Matebeleland region.
She maintains that if there is going to be any alliance it should be in Mashonaland province where the party has performed dismally during elections.
Tsvangirai said ethnic politics was dangerous thing for the nation.
“A country should not be divided on the basis of where one comes from. If we are to build a nation which is proud of its identity and integrity we must destroy this culture of ethnicity,” Tsvangirai said.
“The reason why we had Gukurahundi is because of ethnicity at the expense of Zimbabweans. And I want to emphasise here that those who are promoting ethnicity and ethnic affiliations are dangerous in this country because everyone is suffering,” said Tsvangirai.
The former Prime Minister also hailed the recent Kenyan Supreme court ruling which ordered a re-run of that country’s elections.
“I would like to congratulate my friend Raila Odinga for the Supreme Court ruling. The ruling is very good for democracy in Africa,” said Tsvangirai.
The alliance launch in Bulawayo was attended by MDC president Welshman Ncube, People Democratic Party PDP president Tendai Biti, People First president President Agrippa Mutambara and Transform Zimbabwe president Jacob Ngarivhume.
