MDC-T prepares for fresh polls

Attended mostly by members of the party’s secretariat and top leaders, but in the absence of MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai, members were told to start preparing for new elections. A source said: “It is clear that Zanu (PF) will crumble under our pressure and strategies”.

Tsvangirai had already left Harare for a fresh diplomatic offensive, visiting various African countries as well as the US and Europe to sensitise them on what his party, civil society and some observer missions have described as massive electoral fraud.

“We were told (by Tendai Biti, the MDC-T Secretary General) to ensure that everything is in place for a re-run of the election. Tsvangirai is out of the country drumming up support around our cause,” said one of the MDC-T leader’s top aides.

The source said Tsvangirai would be telling world leaders that there is need for a forensic audit of the polls in preparation for new elections, and was unhappy with South African President Jacob Zuma’s speedy congratulatory message to Mugabe.

“Zuma might be anxious to see an end to the Zimbabwean issue, and that seems to be the reason for him to prematurely congratulate Mugabe. He is apparently afraid that challenging the result will lead to strife, but then, the crisis that is looming due to the stolen polls is bigger,” he added.

On Sunday, MDC-T candidates gathered at Harvest House to present their complaints, which the source said were being used as evidence during Tsvangirai’s whirlwind tour and would also be given to the African Union and SADC.

“We are also pinning our hopes on (Olusegun) Obasanjo. We have been told that he is unhappy with what happened during the elections and is working flat out with his team to produce a condemning report based on the findings that are already public. The report will certainly convince the world that there is need for new elections,” said the source.

He said Zanu (PF) had tried to talk to Tsvangirai about the looming electoral crisis. “He (Tsvangirai) is having none of that. He told Zanu (PF) point blank that he would only talk to the Zimbabwean people and relevant African and international bodies.