The embattled Congress of the People (Cope) has suspended all coalition talks with other opposition parties, fearing that it could be “swallowed up” if it enters an alliance in its current state.
Resolutions from Cope’s national congress in May reveal that the party is worried about its loss of political strength in recent months, undermining its bargaining strength in any process leading to a “political marriage”.
“The party must not go into a political marriage where it is destined to be swallowed up or serve other political parties’ agenda[s],” read the congress resolutions, which were distributed to congress national committee members this week.
“There is a need to enter any discussions on realignment from a position of strength defined by our own development and political clarity.”
Cope’s deputy president, Mbhazima Shilowa, told the Mail & Guardian that the party’s primary concern is to build its branches and profile and to be clear about what it stands for. “If you are weak, you will be swallowed. Under the circumstances, the focus should not be on political realignment, it should be on building the party,” said Shilowa.
It would be disingenuous for Cope to enter into a political coalition that would simply be “an anti-ANC alliance”, he said.
“You will run into problems because you will be an alliance that is anti-something but does not stand for anything.”
Infighting
Cope started talks aimed at a possible multiparty coalition that would have been led by the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance, but included other opposition parties such as the Independent Democrats and the United Democratic Movement.
Cope’s performance, including that in the National Assembly, where it has 30 seats, has taken a nosedive amid infighting over the party’s leadership.
Cope’s main factions, one supporting Shilowa, the other backing the party’s president, Mosiuoa Lekota, are locked in fierce court battles over issues that include the interdiction of conferences and moves to halt the swearing-in of Lekota as the party’s parliamentary leader following the resignation of Mvume Dandala.