Mugabe has accused his rivals of stalling the process to write a new constitution to prolong the life of the GNU, but Tsvangirai said he was ready for a fresh poll.
"I want to make it clear today that the MDC is ready for an election anytime and anywhere," Tsvangirai told a 12th anniversary rally of his MDC in Gwanzura Stadium in Harare Saturday afternoon.
"Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC are ready for an election tomorrow, as long as all the benchmarks have been met to ensure the security of the people’s vote.
"So I am ready for elections! But we have agreed, with the backing of SADC, that we will abide by a process, characterized by clear benchmarks so that we do not repeat the ridiculous charade of 2008 when one presidential candidate contested an election against himself and proudly declared himself a winner. So I want to send a message today that we won the last election and we are ready for you! "We will defeat you-again!" Tsvangirai said amid rancorous applause.
The regional Southern African Development Community has been stepping up pressure on the 87-year-old Zanu PF leader to call off polls until after a referendum, due to be held in January.
But Mugabe has thrown down the gauntlet and said polls will be held before March 2012.
"We cannot go beyond March next year," Mugabe said. "I will definitely announce that (election) date. It does not matter what anyone would say," the official Herald newspaper quoted Mugabe as telling a meeting of his ZANU-PF party.
"Once I announce the date, everyone will follow," said Mugabe, who was until recently pushing for elections this year.
Elections are due in 2013 but Mugabe says the unity government has expired and there must be a fresh poll. His rivals say there was never a sunset clause in the global political agreement that gave birth to the GNU.
Tsvangirai said the MDC was heartened by the unstinting effort of colleagues in regional bloc SADC in helping craft an election roadmap that will ensure a credible election, an undisputed result and a legitimate government.
"A time-bound roadmap, with clear milestones and signposts to ensure the people of Zimbabwe cast their votes in peace, with neither fear nor coercion," Tsvangirai said. "A roadmap that will ensure that the outcome of that election is respected and that the people’s will is protected. I urge everyone in SADC, in Africa and the broader international community to be global citizens; to be responsible citizens of the world who will fight for freedom and democracy anywhere in the world, including Zimbabwe."
Tsvangirai called on the international community "to support the people of Zimbabwe as they navigate through this delicate transition into a new country, with new values and a new ethos."
Analysts say Mugabe's inner circle wants an early election, fearing the veteran leader may not be able to cope with the demands of campaigning in two years' time when he will be 89 years old.
Tsvangirai initially wanted early polls but his Movement for Democratic Change party (MDC) says it will not take part in a vote without a new constitution and electoral and security reforms.
Post published in: Africa News