President Tsvangirai briefs diplomatic community

The President narrated to the diplomatic community how the police on Wednesday beat up innocent citizens in central Harare in a desperate bid to stop them from attending a sanctioned rally at the Glamis Arena. The violence and the unnecessary arrest of himself and other party officials early yesterday morning, the President said, resulted in unnecessary injuries and showed once again that Zanu PF was not sincere in the dialogue process. The diplomats were apprised of the MDC cause and the legitimacy of marching for pressing national issues including food, jobs, cash, clean water, electricity, a new Constitution, affordable health care, education and the restoration of people’s dignity which has been ravaged by entrenched misgovernance and corruption. President Tsvangirai said the freedom marches were going to be held countrywide in the next few weeks. He said the march in Harare had been disrupted and the party would soon be notifying the police of another peaceful, non-violent march in the capital city. On the dialogue, President Tsvangirai said the situation on the ground was abundant evidence that Zanu PF was not sincere in the process. He said there had been a deadlock in the SADC-brokered dialogue on the political environment, the transitional constitution and the election date.  The onus was now on SADC to conclude the matter in the full knowledge that there had been a deadlock on the three sticking issues.President Tsvangirai told the diplomats that the MDC would only participate in a free and fair election. He said the appropriate organs of the party would take the decision but whatever decision the party would take, it was already clear that the next election would be contestable and illegitimate. The President reiterated the need for a united front to fight the entrenched dictatorship. President Tsvangirai said all the consultations had been done and discussions held with all parties, albeit informally, and there was convergence and consensus on the need to work together. He said a united front was a unifying and motivating agent for the people of Zimbabwe. Unity, the President said, was the greatest gift the democratic forces would give to the people. The MDC remains committed to a broad-based front of political parties, churches, students and workers as a necessary tonic in the fight for the democratization of the country of our birth. We shall continue to march for our rights and our dignity. A New Zimbabwe is the only legacy we can bequeath to posterity. A New Zimbabwe a new beginning. Now is the time!!!! Hon Nelson Chamisa, MP.Secretary for Information and Publicity