New MDC faction leader calls for unity

The new leader to a faction of Zimbabwe's main opposition party made a combative call at the weekend for the removal of President Robert Mugabe, while also extending an olive branch to the rival wing. "The sky is the limit - we are definitely going to use any means that suits us to achieve power from the ruling ZANU-PF, and that will include jambanja [direct confrontation and civil disobedience]," said Arthur Mutambara on Sunday at a press conference in the second city of Bulawayo. Mutambara, a former student leader turned established scientist, was elected over the weekend after arriving from abroad to pilot the faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) that broke with leader Morgan Tsvangirai over his decision to boycott last year's senate poll. Mutambara told delegates to the congress of the pro-senate faction that his immediate goal would be to try and reconcile the opposition's feuding camps. "Our agenda as a party is to fight ZANU-PF head-on and we do not believe in fighting other democratic forces. We will certainly be glad to reach a compromise with the other group [led by Tsvangirai] so that we could move in one direction and with a common goal; for our only enemy as Zimbabweans is the current regime ... After all, Morgan Tsvangirai deserves respect among us. He is a hero." Tsvangirai's spokesperson, William Bango, was guarded in his response. "If Mutambara wants talks with Tsvangirai, he will certainly get that chance, but what I do not foresee happening is any form of compromise that will subordinate him [Tsvangirai]. It is a fact that Tsvangirai still remains the legitimate leader of the MDC." Political analyst Brian Raftopolous said Mutambara's maiden speech was a "useful development" that would help the pro-senate faction "develop their image", but the broader impact on national politics "was too early to tell". He added that "enormous obstacles still remain" in repairing the breach between the two MDC camps.