Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has predicted an outright victory for the MDC-T in the forthcoming elections, saying the mood in the country was “overwhelmingly anti-Zanu PF.”
REPORT BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Addressing about 4 000 supporters at a rally in Bubi in Matabeleland Province on Friday, the MDC-T leader said the elections would not produce another coalition government as his party was romping to a resounding victory.
“The MDC-T is ready for the elections. Elections should come now and this time there will not be another unity government. The mood in Zimbabwe is overwhelmingly anti-Zanu PF,” Tsvangirai told cheering party supporters. “The MDC-T is confident that Zimbabweans will not vote for a dark past but for a bright future, which lies in the hands of the MDC-T.”
Tsvangirai accused Zanu PF of deliberately causing confusion over the election dates in a bid to rig the up-coming polls.
“We are not against the holding of elections on July 31 or any other date. What difference does it make? How can we refuse to go for an election when we won in 2008?” said Tsvangirai. “What we want are the reforms that will bring a free, fair and legitimate election. We do not want a repeat of the 2008 scenario, where Zanu PF went on to steal an election.”
Tsvangirai beat President Robert Mugabe in the violent 2008 elections but not with enough votes to claim the presidency.
Mugabe unilaterally set July 31 as the election date, only to be forced by a special summit of Sadc to mount a court challenge seeking a poll postponement to allow for the implementation of electoral and legislative reforms to guarantee free and fair voting.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Zanu PF has accused the MDC-T of being scared of the elections.
Tsvangirai said Zimbabweans would not allow their “will to be subverted” and advised the State security organs to respect the election outcome.
“We want our soldiers to know that at the end of the day, the people shall govern. We want them to respect the constitution and the mandate of the people,” said Tsvangirai. “If Zanu PF is ready to subvert the will of the people, we will say go ahead … but we are very confident that the people of Zimbabwe will not allow their will to be subverted.”
The 2008 harmonised elections were marred by political violence. The MDC-T has claimed that 200 of its supporters were killed by Zanu PF youth militia and State security agents in 2008 as they tried to prop up Mugabe.
Zanu PF has however denied the allegations.
Mugabe and Tsvangirai have also called for peace to prevail during the elections.
The MDC parties have said election observers should be deployed immediately to create a conducive electoral environment.
KHUPE URGES PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR PEACE
A 10-member African Union (AU) pre-observer team is already in the country to assess the political situation ahead of harmonised elections set for July 31. Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe urged Zimbabweans to pray for peace to prevail before and after the elections.
“The Bible says that if one asks, they will be given. We should therefore pray asking for peace to prevail. We want an election that will see Tsvangirai going to the State House without violence,” said Khupe.
