By Paul Nyathi

Smaller partners to the MDC Alliance have told their supporters to be patient with the Alliance amidst complaints that the bigger partners MDC-T and the MDC are bullying them.

Speaking at the Alliance partner, Transform Zimbabwe’s congress on Friday, the leaders of the parties acknowledged party supporters that the MDCs were not treating them as equal partners to the Alliance.

The parties claimed that their leaders are not being given as much time and respect at the Alliance rallies as is done with partners Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti.

“Our leaders in the Alliance are being belittled and treated as if they have nothing to contribute,” fumed a delegate at the congress.

The delegate raised the concern when deliberations were being held on whether the party led by Jacob Ngrivhume should continue within the alliance.

Ngarivhume said there have been areas of concern regarding the treatment of alliance principals that he has taken up with the alliance president Nelson Chamisa.

“There have been various complaints within the alliance as the principals feel they are not being given adequate time to speak during the rallies, and I feel this is justified as we are also bringing something to the table. I have some members from my party who have reported to me saying the areas given to us to stand as members of parliament  as part of the alliance agreement are being contested for by MDC candidates, for example in Bikita.”

The parties further complained that inn some cases MDC-T supporters just don’t tolerate the other leaders as when ZANU Ndonga’s Mutape Sakwinje was booed off stage without addressing at an Alliance rally in Gweru.

Speaking at the event, Zim first president Agrippa Mutambara who is also an Alliance principal said they were aware that as leaders of small parties within the alliance that their followers were disgruntled by their treatment within the alliance, but however urged them to look at the bigger picture that is the promised MP seats.

“Transform Zimbabwe and Zim first are some of the parties that joined the MDC alliance , the most important part within our strategy is to be seen in Parliament , let us not be short-sighted , I know that in my party and also in TZ people are murmuring questioning why we joined this alliance as they feel we are being tagged along, understand that in politics we adopt strategies that take us to the next level . By the time we enter Parliament people will know us, however when we meet with other partners we raise such issues,” said Ngarivhume.

The MDC-T has been accused of giving alliance partners ZANU PF stronghold areas that they themselves have never won as their allocated areas to contest.