Movement for Democratic Change founding president Morgan Tsvangirai and his executive council are to meet Friday with leaders of the religious activist group known as the Churches in Zimbabwe to talk about the “National Vision” document that the religious leaders have circulated, including to President Robert Mugabe.
However, opposition insiders have said the meeting is more of a formality because the national executive of the Tsvangirai MDC faction panned the document last Saturday when it met, concluding that it essentially offered Mr. Mugabe a “soft landing.” The faction's executive also said that church consultations had been too narrow.
The religious leaders are also scheduled to meet with the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations and the Council of Chiefs, or traditional leaders.
Reporter Blessing Zulu of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe sought comment from Bishop Trevor Manhanga, head of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe and chairman of the Heads of Christian Denominations, as well as one of the architects of the “vision” document, who said the session with the MDC is an expansion of consultations.