THE presidents of the two MDC rival factions, Morgan Tsvangirai and Professor Arthur Mutambara, yesterday embraced, shook hands and pledged to work together to unseat the ruling Zanu PF.

Tsvangirai and Mutambara were meeting in public for the first time and were joined by the presidents of three other opposition political parties as signs of a tentative broad alliance against Zanu PF began to show.

The unexpected development took place at a Harare convention organised by the Christian Alliance, a grouping of Christian leaders who brought together civil society, labour, students, political parties, women's organisations and churches to debate the future of the country.

Although Zanu PF together with bishops who support the ruling party had been invited, they snubbed the event.

Tsvangirai, who was presenting his faction's vision for the country, invited Mutambara to the podium and United People's Party president, Daniel Shumba.

Zapu Federal Party president, Paul Siwela and Wurayayi Zembe of the Democratic Party, joined the three leaders.

The five opposition leaders shook hands and embraced in a move that was greeted by rapturous applause, singing, whistling and ululations.

"I have called my colleagues upfront here because we are the political leaders that unite or divide the people. There is no political party which is too small or big. We now make a pledge that we just don't speak unity but that we act the unity. Let us not listen to our voices but to the voices of the people," Tsvangirai said to roars of approval from the close to 500 delegates from around the country.

Mutambara also brought the house down when he said: "I am prepared to surrender the political power that I have on condition that we return to the founding values of the MDC which include non-violence and respect for the constitution."

Mutambara said equally, he hoped other opposition politicians would be prepared to work under any democratically elected leader who would lead a united front against Zanu PF.

The show of unity by the opposition, which could further unsettle the already divided Zanu PF, could be the culmination of behind the scenes lobbying as Mutambara, Tsvangirai, Siwela, Shumba and Zembe appeared to be comfortable with each other. They even held a brief discussion during the tea break.

It was not immediately clear last night how the modalities of the united front would be ironed out.

Delegates who broke into working groups were discussing issues pertaining to the constitution, mediation, lobbying, engaging the grassroots and the possibility of the formation of a broad alliance similar to the Kenyan Rainbow Coalition which kicked long time dictator, Daniel Arap Moi out of power.

"Zanu PF continues to put wedges between us because they know that if we are divided, they have more time to ruin the country. It is now time to isolate the dictatorship," Zembe said.

In a statement which he sent to the convention, Archbishop Pius Ncube said: "Zimbabweans have shown themselves to be resilient, noble and peace loving-despite all provocation including Murambatsvina, a vicious act of government. The present situation is hurting everyone and a solution is urgently needed. There seems to be no way we will solve this crisis except through negotiation."

The convenor of the Christian Alliance, Bishop Levee Kadenge told The Standard in an interview: "For some time we have looked elsewhere but not here for Zimbabwe's salvation. It is now apparent to all that our problems can only be solved by ourselves."