Biti speaks of assassination fears

Biti, secretary general of the MDC-T, is seen as the partys most influential leader after leader Tsvangirai. The two are MDC-Ts principal players in the unity government formed in February with President Robert Mugabes Zanu (PF) party and the smaller MDC formation led by Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
Eliminating the two MDC leaders could be a death blow to the unity government and possibly the former opposition party as well.
“Tsvangirai is the face of change in Zimbabwe and change is a threat to those who have been benefiting from the status quo,” Biti told Britains Guardian newspaper last week.
“Yes, we are at risk (of assassination) and I think we are being irresponsible by having the lax security arrangements we have, certainly myself,” added Biti, who did not provide names of the people who might want to take his and Tsvangirais lives.
The unity government is seen as offering Zimbabwe the best opportunity in a decade to restore stability and end a devastating economic and humanitarian crisis that had seen the once prosperous country suffer rampant inflation, acute food shortages, record unemployment and deepening poverty.
But doubts remain over the governments long-term effectiveness given the mistrust that persists between Zanu (PF) and MDC-T the administrations two main pillars.
Biti more than a week ago received an envelope at his Harare home containing a 9mm bullet and a note telling him to prepare his will in what the MDC said was a death threat against its secretary general.
His gardener- Howard Makonza- had to be hospitalised last week after he was brutally assaulted by soldiers who guard the home of army commander General Philip Sibanda.
Biti said: The fact of the matter is that we are in a struggle, a vicious struggle. The easiest and most opportunistic solution is to eliminate, and when you eliminate particularly strategic persons like Prime Minister Tsvangirai, you take the struggle backwards for many years. So of course any opponent would have to strategise and say, ‘Look guys, this is an easy solution.’
However the MDC secretary general appeared to draw a little comfort from the fact that it would not be easy for anyone to murder two of some of Zimbabwes most well know political leaders and escape without punishment.
“Killing somebody is not easy and also the world has moved. The information highway has helped: Zimbabwe is not an island. There will be harsh consequences to any act of insanity, he said.
The MDC-T often accuses what it says are hardliner elements in Zanu (PF) and the army of seeking to derail the unity government for fear its success would rob them of the privilege and benefits they had come to take for granted after more than two decades in power.