Tsvangirai, who formed a unity government with President Robert Mugabe in 2009, in an independence message published today, also warns of a “small clique that is determined to drag the country back to the dark days” in another sign of increasing tension in the coalition.
The message appeared to be a call to his supporters to prepare for elections later this year where he hopes to topple Mugabe who has ruled the country since independence.
Zimbabwe is likely to hold an election this year to bring to an end the dysfunctional coalition government.
“It is probable that by the time we celebrate 32 years of independence, we will be at a watershed period that will shape and decide our collective future,” he said in the combative statement.
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“Thus we have a momentous and exciting year ahead of us.
“A year that will enable us all to choose, determine and put in place mechanisms to ensure we build a strong foundation for the new Zimbabwe that we demand and deserve.”
The PM said the year would hold “many challenges, dangers and difficult choices” for Zimbabweans. The Independence celebrations have been dampened by the new
wave of repression against Mu-gabe’s opponents, which have been characterised by arrests and violence perpetrated by police.
Welshman Ncube’s MDC has already indicated that it will not take part in the celebrations after its deputy secretary general Moses Mzila-Ndlovu, was arrested on Friday.
Ndlovu, who is also co-minister in the Organ on National Healing, Reconciliation and Integration, was arrested for attending a mass held in memory of the post-independence Gukurahundi massacres in Matabeleland and Midlands in Lupane.
As usual Mugabe is expected to address the main celebrations in Harare while governors whose appointment was rejected by MDC-T will read his speech in all the provincial capitals.
