A South African publication, quoting unnamed sources, reported that SADC advised MDC-T against participating in the polls as a way of ensuring reforms were carried out, but the party forged ahead under the impression that it would still win.
It said the advice was given during a special meeting held in Maputo, Mozambique.
Douglas Mwonzora, the MDC-T Secretary for Information, told The Zimbabwean that, to the contrary, SADC wanted them to participate even though it was concerned some key reforms had not been made ahead of the polls.
“It is not true that SADC wanted us to pull out. SADC was actually encouraging us to participate in the elections, but, during the Maputo summit, it was insisting on reforms and that was communicated to all the parties,” said Mwonzora.
He added his party decided to take part in the elections, despite the failure by the tripartite negotiating process involving MDC-T, MDC-N and Zanu (PF), to make media, electoral and security sector reforms “for two major reasons”.
“We had a fear that if we failed to run in the elections, that would give Zanu (PF) a chance to make wholesome amendments to the constitution. We did not want to give them a chance to change the Bill of Rights and provisions regarding presidential terms limits, for example. But then, we also didn’t anticipate that Zanu (PF) would cheat on election day as to it went on to do,” he said.
MDC-T last week vowed to boycott all government institutions in protest over alleged rigging by Zanu (PF) and state institutions that include the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the military.
Post published in: News
its n o longer important
SADC or AU are not there to tell political parties to participate or not in elections,but rather to monitor and observe and that is what they did.MDC did not do its homework but were busy running to EU,AU, SADC so how do you think of victory in such a situation,next time you have to wake up and not to take the electorate for granted
………But then, we also didn’t anticipate that Zanu (PF) would cheat on election day as to it went on to do,†he said.
If you didn’t anticipate that, no wonder you lost. Cna a leopard change its spots? Naive, silly, clueless MDC officials.
Whoever provided that advice was suppose to put it in writing! Where is Welshman?
the famous quote ‘Let Bush keep his United States of America and Blair keep his Britain. I will keep my Zimbabwe
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