I don’t trust Mugabe: Tsvangirai

According to an interview Tsvangirai had with the International Bar Associations James Lewis, the Zimbabwean premier said the denunciation and personal hurt he suffered at the hands of Mugabe were too much but he chose to make a distinction between trusting his archrival and helping to resolve problems faced by the people. No, I dont trust him, Tsvangirai said when asked whether he trusted Mugabe now that the two had agreed to form a coalition government and were expected to work together.

The interview was published last week. The former opposition leader was arrested, tortured and denied a passport during his long-running battle to dislodge Mugabe from power through the ballot. Tsvangirai agreed to enter a unity government with Mugabe under pressure from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and on promises that the administration would implement democratic reforms, including drafting a new constitution that would lead to fresh free and fair elections. The unity government has won plaudits for stabilising the economy to

improve the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.

But it has scored poorly on political and democratic reforms, with the stop-start constitutional reforms way behind schedule, raising fears that the new vote that was initially expected in 2011 might have to be delayed to probably 2012 or 2013. The administration has not moved an inch to reform and restructure the security forces that were behind most of the human rights violations of the past 10 years. There has been some movement on media reforms but no new papers have been licenced while those that were banned remain so. Farm invasions have continued while there have been increasing reports in recent months that Zanu (PF) militants backed by state security forces have re-launched violence and intimidation in several parts of the country.

Tsvangirai said he has cast aside the issue of his personal relationship with Mugabe and adopted the principle that he should work towards crafting a political architecture which will create a new environment for the people. And I think we have built a respectful working relationship. His actions in the past are totally unjustified, but we are opening a new chapter. What is reconciliation if we as leaders dont start from our bases? the premier said.