CODE chairman Gilbert Dzikiti
NewZimbabwe.com reporter Nkosana Dlamini (ND) chats to CODE’S interim chairperson Gilbert Dzikiti (GD) about the coalition’s plans and related issues.
Below are excerpts of the interview;
ND: You were appointed CODE’S first rotational chair. How long is your term and what is your brief?
GD: I was appointed for a period of two months and my brief is to chair all CODE meetings, convene such meeting, present agenda and be CODE spokesperson.
My immediate goals are to operationalise the CODE agreement framework by setting up the Governing Council and other committees as promulgated in the agreement. My goal is to engage all political parties interested and subscribing to the values of CODE so that we work together in building a Zimbabwe that we all want to live in.
ND: What is CODE’S lifespan and is it only created for 2018 or you are looking at something beyond. If so, what could that be?
GD: The lifespan of CODE will obviously extend to a new government for the people of Zimbabwe in 2018. CODE goes beyond 2018 as it will be a government implementing a CODE rebuilding and recovery economic program to restore Zimbabwe to the community of developed nations. We seek to write a new narrative before and after 2018 that will see a united, focused opposition which will assume power in 2018 to implement agreed programs for the people of Zimbabwe. An inclusive, consulted, people orientated manifesto will guide the CODE government. It is enshrined in the CODE document that civil society, church and the broader community will be engaged in order to craft a Zimbabwe vision which goes beyond electioneering.
ND: What happens to individual parties? Are they still free to pursue their own programmes or they should dump their plans and subscribe to CODE?
GD: Parties within CODE are autonomous and will continue with their programs. However, for purposes of pursuing a common agenda, the parties in CODE will stand guided by the agreement. For example, all parties will be subject to the agreed economic policy, social policy, sports policy etc, and will work towards campaigning for these policies until their implementation in a CODE government.
ND: What was the requirement for parties to join CODE? If one forms a party today, do they qualify?
ND: The CODE agreement is obviously a convergence of presently ZEC-notified parties and the parties in the agreement will decide on who joins CODE as a collective. If someone forms a party today their application will be considered in all fairness and a collective and binding decision is made.
ND: Please explain why two major parties, MDC-T and Zimbabwe People First are not part of you.
GD: At our signing ceremony, we indicated and categorically stated that the MDC-T was engaged at the highest level and I myself was part of the delegation which personally invited Mr (Morgan) Tsvangirai to the coalition discussion. Mr Tsvangirai indicated that he was willing to pursue such discussion although he indicated they have what he termed the Big Tent initiatives.
In fact, he agreed to attend our next meeting on the 26th (May) after having proposed we shift our meeting from 21 to that day. He only then invited us back for a briefing on the 25th at night and informed us that he would not be attending our discussions on the 26th. The following day, we woke up to headline news that the MDC-T will go it alone but that was not their communicated position because they had said they will join the discussion later on.
People First were also engaged at the highest level and they indicated that they were not in a position to attend discussions since they are still at the formative stage but would attend the discussion after their party building exercise and congress. They, in fact, requested to be kept abreast of developments.
ND: What would be your take on assertions that the coalition is weak without these two parties?
GD: The assertion that without these two we are weak is a dangerous misconception that the people of Zimbabwe are gullible and naive not to exercise rational thinking. The people of Zimbabwe are clamouring for change which strengthens institutions and not individuals. I want to make it clear those who are still in their perceived big boy or women politics that they have been overtaken by events and wishes of the people. We are not weak but in fact strong in our diversity. There is power in unity and the fact that Zimbabweans are talking about the coalition agreement shows that we are writing a new narrative and changing history.
For the record, both the MDC-T and People First have indicated willingness and readiness to engage us for a better Zimbabwe for us all. We welcome their indications and hope they naturally will follow their indication to turn right and not left because trust, integrity and honesty are important principles in CODE.
ND: Some say coalitions in their very nature are insecure; they are open to infiltration by the state because they bring in a lot of individuals together. How secure is yours?
GD: Coalitions in themselves are based on trust and integrity; however, we are aware that the quasi-Zanu PF state intelligence will try and destabilise our union. We will be vigilant against that but what has become glaring is the fact that intelligence officers and state security systems also support change for a Zimbabwe they also wish to live in. They have to realise that the system as currently defined is archaic and past its sell by date.
ND: Let’s look at you as a politician. Some Zimbabweans may not know you personally and may be quick to dismiss you as a fortune seeker for a leader whose popularity has hardly been tested in elections. Who is Dzikiti and what does he stand for? Can he win an election on his own or he has to piggyback on already popular parties?
GD: I am a Zimbabwean, a former student leader, activist and father. I am a social democrat and believe that we have reached the Rubicon for old generational politics of ‘we fought the war mantra’. I am a strong believer in the ideals of the liberation war and the progressive socialist dogma which evolves around democratic values. We have been, as a party, tested in elections as we participated in the 15 June by-elections. In fact, we fared better than NCA, MKD and other established parties. Our brand has been well received and people have since recognised that Zimbabwe deserves a new narrative which is what we are offering to the generality of Zimbabweans.
Our ideology is not centred on individual glory and deification but the need for the party to be a brand that lives beyond forenames and surnames. We strongly believe that individuals come and go but the brand should live beyond its founding members. I am only fortunate to be leading the party as presently defined.
The people of Zimbabwe have evolved to judge parties as entities and not individuals and definitely 2018 will be a game-changer and usher in a new dispensation for our people. Indeed, I can win an election any time, any day but it should be the people of Zimbabwe winning in the form of a free and fair election.
ND: Do you, as a coalition, already have a formula on how you will come up with a single presidential cabinet for 2018. If so, what’s the formula?
GD: Those are some of the issues our elections committee will be seized with but be rest assured that we will field one candidate for every contestable position.
ND: MDC-T is said to have more support than the rest of the opposition parties put together. Is that enough to secure the leadership spot for Tsvangirai?
GD: Firstly, if they are to join CODE, they will be coming on the sincerity test that any person other than Tsvangirai or Dzikiti can be our candidate for 2018. There should be no illusion as to automatic presidential candidacy of CODE. Those modalities of who becomes our candidate will be done consistent with the values and principles of CODE. What is enough for a person to be a presidential candidate or any candidate for that matter is consensus and agreement to that effect. Our elections committee will be seized with those issues.
ND: There is talk about some members having too much preoccupation with positions at the expense of how much they can contribute in terms of defeating Zanu PF through possibly inventing strategies on blocking rigging. Do you think every individual member of the coalition has any tangible contribution to the coalition or some are just making up numbers?
GD: Every party in CODE has contributed and will contribute to a Zimbabwe we want in any strategic way. Those who are saying members are preoccupied with positions are misguided and not part of us. They have their own fears and ghosts haunting them otherwise we are comfortable as members of CODE. Which position are they preoccupied with in the first place. We are finding each other and the poignant truth is we are only preoccupied with what will be best for Zimbabwe pre and post 2018.
Every member has equal contribution and will retain the same respect as others. Those making numbers and noises are outside the framework of CODE. In CODE, we value and weigh every contribution as important in building a Zimbabwe we want. We are engaged in strategies to increase the opposition vote and be the next government in 2018. Urban apathy and voter disillusionment should be addressed adequately towards 2018. We are formulating strategies that will obviously bring victory for the people.
ND: Lastly, in the 2013 elections, Zanu PF’s total vote was by far higher than those of all its competitors combined, suggesting that even if there was an opposition coalition then, all would have come to naught. What is that extra effort you are doing as a coalition to ensure you are not caught in the same situation?
GD: The situation of 2013 is far different to what Zanu PF will face in 2013. Our priority is obviously the rural vote and how we can be able to remove impediments to a free and fair election. We definitely will engage and mobilise Zimbabweans with a singular message and vision which captures their concerns and wishes. Such a scenario will involve all stakeholders in the spirit of a Zimbabwe we want.
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