The Zimbabwean heard that Tsvangirai, who was expected in Zimbabwe Monday, has stayed his return because Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos, a close ally of Mugabe who also heads the SADC troika on Politics, Defence and Security; had still not obtained a security guarantee for Tsvangirai by Monday. The MDC leader met Dos Santos in Luanda on Saturday to discuss modalities of returning to Zimbabwe.
It is feared Tsvangirai could be jailed upon return on treason charges or physically harmed. Police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri has already stated that police were “keen” to interview Biti about his pre-emptive announcement of election results, which Chihuri asserts was illegal. Biti however said he merely restated election results that were already in the public domain since they were posted outside polling stations.
Tsvangirai’s spokesman George Sibotshiwe confirmed that the MDC leader would be in Zimbabwe before the close of this week. But senior MDC officials said privately Tsvangirai was expected in Harare tomorrow Friday.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said his party expected the police force to act professionally and allow Tsvangirai to return unhindered and complete the process of change.
“Of course we are extremely worried about the security not only of the president, but of all those in the democratic movement or those with alternative view point to that of Zanu (PF),” Chamisa said. “That is why we continue to appeal to the police to execute their duties professionally.”
Tsvangirai had earlier stated on Saturday that he would return to Zimbabwe in two days, meaning Monday, to begin campaigning for a second round of voting.
He has been in exile since April 10, launching an intense diplomatic offensive aimed at pressuring Mugabe to relinquish power. Tsvangirai has been based in South Africa and Botswana for the past month, amid concerns for his safety in Zimbabwe, where the MDC says 31 of its members have been killed and hundreds of supporters injured by pro-Mugabe militia and soldiers since the elections.
He has tabled a set of conditions before participating in the poll, including reconstitution of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commision (ZEC), that the run off be held by May 23 and international supervision for the run off. Zanu (PF) spokesman and interim Justice minister, Patrick Chinamasa has rejected these demands.
Chamisa retorted: “There is no reason why men and women of good standing, men of good and reputable moral, political and electoral practices would hide away from international observers. Zanu (PF) are not interested in having international observers because they know that they are thieves.”  Â
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commision has also ruled out the possibility of the run off being held by May 23. Mugabe, 84, who has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980, is seeking a sixth term in power, despite vandalizing Zimbabwe’s economy.
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