MDC shouldn’t contest cuz more will be killed – situation on the ground is close 2 genocide. People are in fear. Tinokuvara varume.I do believe that under the current circumstances this was the right choice. The loss of life cannot in anyway justify an election that has been fraught with problems from day one.
MDC Pull out in the face of violence saves lives. But what’s our Plan B to avoid political irrelevance & redundancy?He should have not withdrawn. He is betraying the people who died and got beaten and displaced for him. In any struggle there are casualities.This is a big let down to the people of Zimbabwe. At least he should have let the electoral process pass and fight on other fronts later.
Morgan should not withdraw from the elections. If he does so, he will have betrayed the movement and he will have betrayed us, as his supporters. What Morgan should understand is that there is no easy road to democracy. He has experienced that through these years after being tormented, beaten and persecuted by the Mugabe regime. The killings, intimidations and beatings currently taking place should not make Morgan to reverse his participation decision. This is a sign that ZANU PF’s rule is about to come to an end. Not all of us will reach the New Zimbabwe. Some of us will die on the way; the other ones will reach hospitalised, whilst others will get into the new Zimbabwe with bruises. This situation should not dishearten Morgan. We are with him. We will not let him down and God is with him. This is a do or die situation and he can not give up at the last minute.
MDC statement on withdrawing from run off
Read Morgan Tsvangirai’s statement on the MDC’s withdrawal here
Interview with Morgan Tsvangirai
Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Zimbabwe, talked to Morgan Tsvangirai about his decision to boycott the June 27 vote and how he sees the future of his party and country.
Haru Mutasa: You have just announced that you are not going to take part in the run-off election for the Zimbabwean presidency. How do you think your supporters will react?
Morgan Tsvangirai: I think our supporters will support this decision, because our council is a representative of all the provinces at the grass roots level. They are the ones we have to confront with this – on a daily basis they have to live with this violence [allegedly carried out by Mugabe’s supporters]. Therefore, when we took this decision, it was really an informed decision. I think it is in the best interests of our people.
What about those who say you are giving Mugabe an easy victory?
We are not giving victory to anyone. In fact, if we were to proceed to an election it would satisfy Robert Mugabe because he would be able to claim legitimacy. But if we withdraw because the conditions are so compelling, then he will have a hollow victory to claim. For us, we won the election on March 29. What he is now doing, to declare war – we will not be a part of it.
What is next for the MDC – what is your strategy now?
Our basic strategy is to inform our people that this is the way we are going to go. I think everyone agrees that these elections are not acceptable. We will be able to mobilize international opinion on that basis.
Have you ever considered a government of national unity with Zanu-PF?
Everyone is suggesting there is almost an unclaimed momentum around a government of national unity. I don’t know about it. No-one has discussed with me nor with the party about the possible proposals. We have never said we are not keen to hold negotiations and we are not keen to accommodate Zanu-PF, or to cohabit with Zanu-PF. We never said that. For the good of the country we need a transitional mechanism that is going to take the country to a more stable [situation]. But no-one is coming forward with specific proposals to say look, this is the crisis we are facing. If we have to end [the crisis] in order to create the necessary stability, I think there is a need to co-exist and co-operate.
Tsvangirai’s decision deeply distressing: UN chief
Terming Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s decision not to contest the Presidential polls as “deeply distressing”, UN chief Ban Ki- moon on Monday said his decision does not bode well for the future of democracy in the country. The Secretary-General also said that the Zimbabwean government has failed to put in place the conditions necessary for free and fair run-off presidential elections. The circumstances leading to Tsvangirai are “deeply distressing,” Ban said, and stressed that the campaign of violence and intimidation has marred the election and done “great disservice” to the people and must end immediately.
– United Nations (PTI)
Zimbabwe government says Tsvangirai must formally withdraw
Zimbabwe will proceed with the June 27 presidential run-off election unless opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai formally withdraws from the poll in writing, a senior government minister said on Sunday. “Tsvangirai must write formally to ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) advising that he is withdrawing from the race, in which event there will be one candidate, meaning there will not be a poll. If he doesn’t, the poll will take place,” Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said. – Reuters
WOZA 14 remanded to 3 July 2008
The 14 members arrested on 28th May appeared on remand in Harare Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning (Friday 20th) and were further remanded to 3rd July. Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, who are still in custody at Chikurubi Women’s Prison, were remanded in absentia as the truck bringing them from prison did not arrive on time. Williams, who is facing extra charges of communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the state and causing disaffection amongst the police force, was also remanded to 3rd July on those charges. Williams and Mahlangu are now entering their fourth week in prison. They remain in good spirits despite the conditions in Chikurubi. Lawyers from Zimbabwe Lawyers from Human Rights (ZLHR) are continuing to work on appealing their continued detention. The two would welcome visits from anyone who would be able to make it to Chikurubi. Meanwhile, two other WOZA members, Trust Moyo and Cynthia Ncube, go on trial in Bulawayo on Monday 23rd charged with distributing materials likely to cause a breach of the peace after being arrested in a peaceful demonstration on 5th May.
Action: please email your messages of support to info@kubatana.org.zw and they will be compiled and delivered to Williams and Mahlangu.