Mugabe rivals invite Raila to party meeting
Prime Minister Raila Odinga could be headed for a clash with Zimbabwean strongman Robert Mugabe after the Kenyan leader was invited as guest of honour at the annual conference of that country’s opposition party on April 30.
While Mr Odinga has agreed to speak at the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) meeting, it is not clear whether Mr Mugabe might try to keep Mr Odinga out of the country.
MDC party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa is said to have told SW Radio Africa reporters on Thursday that Mr Odinga was expected to attend and speak about democracy and social justice in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city.
On Sunday, Mr Odinga’s spokesman Dennis Onyango said: “The PM received a delegation from MDC about a month ago who delivered the party’s wish that he attends their congress. In principle, the PM agreed to attend.”
Mr Onyango said the MDC was to sort out a few protocol issues then hand in a formal invitation. “Once that is done, he will be willing to attend.”
Mr Odinga criticised Mr Mugabe following the country’s disputed elections when he called for a military intervention. Mr Mugabe reacted angrily, saying Mr Odinga was not welcome in Zimbabwe.
Mr Odinga has much in common with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai. One of the few outspoken African critics of President Mugabe, the Kenyan leader agreed to a power-sharing deal with President Kibaki, after contested elections that led to violence in 2007/08.
Zimbabwe’s unity government was also formed after contested elections in 2008. Mr Mugabe declared victory in a one-man presidential runoff after a violent campaign against the MDC and its supporters.
This led to the signing of the Global Political Agreement, similar to Kenya’s National Accord, that created the unity government.
SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa said there was much speculation that Mr Odinga had been invited by the MDC as a strategic move.
“It remains to be seen whether Mugabe will allow him to address the congress knowing he is a critic,” he added. Other observers warned that Mr Mugabe may react and find excuses to ban the visit.
The MDC said the theme for this year’s congress will be “United Winning Covenant for Real Change”.
All the executive positions will be contested at the congress except the presidency which will remain in the hands of Mr Tsvangirai, the party leader.
Chamisa told reporters that the party congress would also be “gender sensitive”, with delegates nominating “as many women as possible” for positions within party structures.
The MDC provincial congresses start on Saturday and will end on April 10.
