In an extraordinary attack on the South African President, whom regional leaders last year appointed mediator in the Zimbabwe crisis, Tsvangirai warned that there will be no country left if Mbeki was allowed to continue in the role.
The Sunday Times is in possession of the explosive letter dated May 13 that was delivered via official channels.
In it, Tsvangirai tells Mbeki: The MDC sees your role as mediator as neither appropriate nor effective.
He accuses Mbeki of: Lacking neutrality; Dividing the MDC; Blocking United Nations discussions on Zimbabwe;Helping Mugabe’s government acquire weapons;Suppressing the Khampepe-Moseneke Report on the 2002 Zimbabwe elections, which means Mbeki has no moral claim to mediate a state of affairs at which he has, in secret, connived; and Breaching the principles of mediation by showing a lack of respect for the MDC.
News of the letter comes as Zimbabwe gears up for the June 27 presidential runoff election between Tsvangirai and Mugabe, and as the Zanu-PF militia and security forces intensify their crackdown on opposition supporters.
Not only have you been unable to denounce the well-documented post-election attacks on our people, but your government even played a role in Zimbabwean government procurement of weapons of repression (tear gas and batons, for example) and agreed to allow passage of arms of war purchased by the same government through South African territory during the troubled post-election period, says Tsvangirai.
He points out that when Mbeki started mediating in Zimbabwe, the country still had a functioning economy.
Millions of citizens had not fled to other countries to escape political and economic crisis and thousands had not died by impoverishment and disease.
He says that since the March 29 elections, Zimbabwe has plunged into horrendous violence while you have been mediating. With respect, if we continue like this, there will be no country left.
Tsvangirai’s letter came as another letter  allegedly written by Mbeki to US President George Bush  surfaced in which Mbeki is said to tell Bush to butt out of Zimbabwe.
Presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga yesterday told the Sunday Times that neither Tsvangirai nor the MDC leadership had written a letter of (that) kind to Mbeki.
We are concerned that there are people who seem to be ready to peddle lies about the mediation process and a range of other issues, he said.
However, senior MDC leaders said they were in possession of a receipt of delivery.
In yet another indication that Mugabe will still not accept defeat, the government mouthpiece The Herald quoted army chief of staff Major-General Martin Chedondo urging soldiers to vote for Mugabe.
Soldiers are not apolitical. Only mercenaries are apolitical. We have signed and agreed to fight and protect the ruling party’s principles of defending the revolution … If you have other thoughts, then you should remove that uniform.
Mugabe’s wife, Grace, was also reported as telling Zanu-PF followers that the MDC would not be allowed to take power.
Even if people vote for the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai will never set foot inside State House, she said.
Tsvangirai’s letter also reveals how he handed Mbeki copies of secret documents outlining a decision by the Zimbabwean government to deploy soldiers, war veterans and militia in a violent campaign.
You expressed deep concern and suggested you would convene a meeting between myself and Mr Mugabe before the SADC summit (in April). I travelled to South Africa and waited for a full day for this meeting … No one from your office ever contacted me.
He says the MDC remains fully committed to SADC’s critical role in Zimbabwe and has no problem with South Africa’s participation in mediation efforts.
Rather, it is your own involvement as exclusive mediator to which we take exception.
He adds: When the MDC attempted to appeal to the UN Security Council to investigate and help stop the carnage, it was you, the so called neutral mediator, who blocked a possible road to a resolution of the crisis.
The MDC says Mbeki’s infamous no-crisis appearance on television with Mugabe was the last straw.
Following this comment and others you made to SADC heads of state, it became clear to the MDC executive that it must urgently review (our) relationship with you and your role in the mediation.
Mbeki is further accused of trying to split the MDC by talking to other party leaders behind Tsvangirai’s back.
As a leader, whilst you may not have respect for me as a person, I can only ask you to respect the position that I hold, which position and responsibility has been endorsed by the majority of Zimbabweans, who voted for me, Tsvangirai says.
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