By PDP Communication Department
The democratic contingent must put Zimbabwe first by coming together to forge a formidable coalition against dictatorship, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) President Tendai Biti has said.
Speaking at an Intra-Party Provincial forum of the Coalition of Democrats (CODE) over the weekend, the President hailed the political parties who took the first bold step by the CODE.
The meeting which was held at the Nelson Mandela hall in Harare was a CODE prelaunch meeting which brought together Provincial leaders from across the 9 signatory parties of CODE.
The coalition will hold a public launch at a venue to be decided by the Governing Council of CODE currently chaired by Dr Dumiso Dabengwa of ZAPU.
President Biti said must be ashamed of the prevailing crisis in Zimbabwe which includes the crisis of leadership.
“We are ashamed each time Mugabe appears in public, we are ashamed each time Mugabe speaks, how do you have a President known for insanity of sorts, a President known for sleeping and for reading wrong speeches,” he said.
He said for the shame to come to an end Zimbabweans needed to come together regardless of whether they are from the Traditional Church, Protestant or Pentecostal. The President said people must also unite across political parties to save themselves.
“Our lives have been captured, emasculated and stolen by a few people from a gang called ZANUPF.
“We make a statement of HOPE that there is Another Zimbabwe which is Possible if people come together, it is an attempt to create a new narrative,” he added.
President Biti said CODE was a giant step towards building a team called TEAM ZIMBABWE.
“Best teams are not made of superstars, they are made of people with different qualities who humble themselves and rely on the other one’s strength. If you deem yourself a superstar in CODE you are probably in the wrong platform.”
He said the sacrifice being made in building a team must have a developmental agenda aimed at uplifting the masses rather than pursuing individual interests.
“It is important that we coalesce around key transformational objectives not personalities. That way we create sustainable change for all
“A Coalition is a means to an end. Ultimately we must create a transformational developmental state where every citizen has a stake’ he said.
CODE will hold the prelaunch meetings with Provincial structures in the country’s remaining Provinces before deciding on a date and venue for the official launch.