VOA常速英语2007年-Friction Rises in Zimbabwe Opposition Faction L

By Peta Thornycroft
22 November 2007

The political future of Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of Zimbabwe's divided opposition¹ Movement for Democratic Change, is facing challenges. As Peta Thornycroft reports for VOA, many of his closest associates are openly expressing dismay with his leadership.

Recent attacks on two journalists and two women, allegedly by young members of Morgan Tsvangirai's faction² of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, sparked a sudden outpouring of dismay from senior party leaders.

The criticism follows a dispute over the appointment of the leader of the party's Women's Assembly and has spread through Tsvangirai's faction of the divided party. Most of the legislators elected on an MDC ticket in 2005 oppose the appointment and some members of the Youth Wing have also expressed dismay.

Violence among youth and others loyal to Tsvangirai has dogged the party almost since its formation in late 1999 and was one of the main reasons the party split into two factions³ two years ago.

Now many of those who stayed with Tsvangirai at that time are angry with him. And some party insiders say this may negatively impact his role as the opposition's candidate to take on President Robert Mugabe in presidential elections due in March.

Last week Tsvangirai told VOA in a telephone interview, that he is not in a fight for his political life and that the controversy⁵ is all "water under the bridge". But party sources say Tsvangirai was holding meetings with individual legislators to regain⁶ their support right up until his departure for the Commonwealth⁷ Heads of Government meeting in Uganda.

Party official Roy Bennett, who lives in Johannesburg, told VOA the party dispute is not serious.

"There is no dissatisfaction among the members of MDC with Mr. Tsvangerai's leadership," said Bennett. "We have just had, on Saturday, every single one of our structures throughout the country had a meeting in the boardroom of Harvest House [party headquarters]. Every one [of the structures] was present, every one [of the structures] attended and there was absolute no dissatisfaction among those members."

Talks to deliver an opposition co-operation pact⁴ before next year's elections failed in May when the Tsvangirai faction rejected the proposal.

Analysts⁸ say the party dispute, one of many over Tsvangirai's leadership in the past three years, is embarrassing, particularly as both factions are engaged in negotiations⁹ with the ruling ZANU-PF. The talks are facilitated by South African president Thabo Mbeki, on behalf of the Southern African Development Community SADC.

While Mr. Mbeki has insisted on strict secrecy¹⁰ around the talks, some information has reached the media and it seems significant progress has been made, including an agreement on new electoral laws.

President Mbeki is in Harare meeting with President Mugabe and negotiators from both sides. Opposition legislator Trudy Stephenson says Zimbabweans have cause for celebration over the negotiations. She said the new laws give Zimbabweans the framework for free and fair elections.

Previous election laws, analysts say, favored the ruling ZANU-PF party and made it difficult for many opposition supporters to be registered or cast their vote.

In 2000 the MDC, when it was only nine months old, made political history by appealing to voters across tribal¹¹ and racial lines and came within a whisker of defeating ZANU-PF.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 faction   

n.宗派，小集团；派别；派系斗争

参考例句：

• Faction and self-interest appear to be the norm.派系之争和自私自利看来非常普遍。
• I now understood clearly that I was caught between the king and the Bunam's faction.我现在完全明白自己已陷入困境，在国王与布纳姆集团之间左右为难。

3 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

4 pact   

n.合同，条约，公约，协定

参考例句：

• The two opposition parties made an electoral pact.那两个反对党订了一个有关选举的协定。
• The trade pact between those two countries came to an end.那两国的通商协定宣告结束。

5 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

6 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

7 commonwealth   

n.共和国，联邦，共同体

参考例句：

• He is the chairman of the commonwealth of artists.他是艺术家协会的主席。
• Most of the members of the Commonwealth are nonwhite.英联邦的许多成员国不是白人国家。

8 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

10 secrecy   

n.秘密，保密，隐蔽

参考例句：

• All the researchers on the project are sworn to secrecy.该项目的所有研究人员都按要求起誓保守秘密。
• Complete secrecy surrounded the meeting.会议在绝对机密的环境中进行。

11 tribal   

adj.部族的，种族的

参考例句：

• He became skilled in several tribal lingoes.他精通几种部族的语言。
• The country was torn apart by fierce tribal hostilities.那个国家被部落间的激烈冲突弄得四分五裂。