Africa backs change: Tsvangirai

Addressing supporters of his MDC-T party earlier this week, Tsvangirai said African leaders among them Libyan ruler and chairman of the African Union (AU) Muammar Gaddafi have now come to realise that change was needed in Zimbabwe.

Tsvangirai, who was recently in Libya, said Gaddafi confided in him that he was well aware of the source of Zimbabwes problems. According to Tsvangirai, the Libyan leader advised him to be patient with Mugabe because of his old age.

I also said to him (Gaddafi) that it does not help to confine solutions to SADC. I appealed to the AU to work together with SADC to help Zimbabwe come off its problems, said Tsvangirai, who also thanked South Africas President Jacob Zuma who has stepped efforts to resolve Zimbabwes political problems.

I want to thank South Africa. As I am talking, President Zuma is preparing to visit Zimbabwe, said Tsvangirai, adding that Zimbabwes political crisis was also an issue of major concern to South Africa.

I want to thank him. You continue being concerned about the plight of Zimbabweans. Zimbabwes instability is not a foreign policy issue to South Africa, it is a domestic issue because if there is instability in this country, we all go the shortest way, migrating to South Africa, he told thousands of rain-socked supporters during a rally last Sunday to mark his partys 10th anniversary.

Tsvangirai, who last month boycotted Cabinet for almost three weeks in protest against Mugabes reluctance to fully implement the GPA that gave birth to the February power-sharing government, said he was happy that all the regional leaders he has approached since the boycott were in agreement that the pact has to be fully implemented.

The boycott only ended after a Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika summit early this month ordered Zimbabwes political leaders to engage in dialogue within 15 days to resolve all outstanding issues.

Tsvangirai urged Zimbabweans living outside the country to return home and participate in the reconstruction of the country devastated by a decade-long economic slide.

Now is the challenge of every Zimbabwean to come and build the Zimbabwe that we demand and deserve, he said.

He said Zimbabwe must normalise its relations with the international community, adding that the country has never quarrelled with any country to warrant a complete disengagement with the international community.

The MDC-T leader also used the occasion to defend his partys decision to enter into the inclusive government with Zanu (PF) saying it was the only remaining option after an inconclusive election for political leaders to peacefully resolve the impasse and restore economic prosperity to the beleaguered country.

He thanked his supporters for sticking by the party over the last decade and blamed the MDC split in 2005 on infiltration by the Central Intelligence Organisation agents at the behest of Zanu (PF).

He praised his partys secretary general Tendai Biti for committing himself fully to the current negotiations and said he had faith in his capabilities and judgment.

Tsvangirai told his supporters to be patient with the outcome of the negotiations, especially the issue of Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono, whose name was being shouted throughout by the crowd.

Tsvangirai said the Zimbabwean dollar will not be back anytime soon. He reiterated his partys resolve to restoring economic prosperity, normalising relations with the broader and wealthier international community and basic freedoms of the majority.

He said it was ill-advised for Zimbabwe to sever ties with wealthier countries.

A dozen party officials who included ministers Tendai Biti, Eric Matinenga, Heneri Dyinotyiwei and Eliphas Mukonoweshuro also attended the rally.