Tsvangirai Urges SADC to Convene Meeting to Discuss Zimbabwe Crisis
The former prime minister urged SADC leaders to meet and try to find ways of ensuring that the next elections reflect the will of the people of Zimbabwe.
HARARE — Movement for Democratic Change founding president, Morgan Tsvangiai, on Thursday launched a document outlining his party’s demands before any new elections are held in Zimbabwe. He urged the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to convene to discuss electoral problems in the country. Launching the document dubbed “Without Reforms No Elections” (WReNE), the former prime minister urged SADC leaders to meet and try to find ways of ensuring that the next elections reflect the will of the people of Zimbabwe. He alleged that previous elections were manipulated by President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party though President Robert Mugabe remains adamant that the polls were free, fair and credible. Tsvangirai said this week’s launch of an economic blueprint by former vice president Joice Mujuru was a clear message that the country needs reforms before any fresh elections were held although he fell short of saying that he would work with Mrs. Mujuru in a coalition ahead of the 2018 elections. Speaking at the same occasion, MDC-T general secretary Douglas Mwonzora said there were several issues that need to be addressed before the MDC-T can participate in any future polls. Mwonzora said a mechanism must also be drawn to ensure that securocrats do not have a role to play in national elections. The opposition party is also demanding that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission takes full charge of voter registration while a framework is set for Mr. Mugabe to smoothly transfer power in the event that he loses the next elections. Tsvangirai applauded what he called a “bold step by Amai Joice Mujuru to finally and completely break ranks with Zanu PF”, saying the move “confirms the inevitable demise” of the ruling party. This after Mrs. Mujuru released a manifesto this week articulating the path she will take to rebuild the country if she came into office although she has yet to form a political party. In a statement by his spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai said the entrance of Mrs. Mujuru into the opposition fray was a confirmation that there was still hope for the future. Some have read Tsvangirai’s statement as cozying up to Mrs. Mujuru for a coalition ahead of the 2018 elections. For perspective Studio 7 reached out to political analyst Dr. Nkululeko Sibanda.