John Ngirachu
6 May 2008
Nairobi — Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said that contrary to press reports he met with Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Monday and not a day earlier.
He spoke at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on arrival from South Africa, where he has been recuperating after undergoing laser eye surgery at Ulm University Hospital in Germany.
He said he had also met former South African president Nelson Mandela and his wife Graca Machel and Zimbabwe's MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Mrs Machel was part of the mediation team which helped to resolve the post-election crisis in the country.
"It was wrongly reported that I met Mr Tsvangirai yesterday (Sunday). I just met him today, actually around five hours ago in South Africa," he said.
He said he advised Mr Tsvangirai to participate in the run-off, but MDC was still considering it.
MDC contend that their candidate, Tvsangirai won the elections with 50.3 per cent of the vote and President Mugabe should hand over power.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) released official results last week, which showed Tvsangirai polling 47.9 per cent and President Mugabe taking 43.2 per cent.
The electoral body said a run-off between the two candidates was needed but it is to announce a date.
Mr Odinga said the political crisis in Zimbabwe is an embarrassment to Africa.
"We are going to ask the African Union to be more proactive when dealing with this issue. The fact that elections can be held in an independent country and it takes more than a month for the results to be announced is sad. That is not really how you want to run a democracy. The rest of Africa is silent and this is not good for democracy. We must speak when an injustice is being done."
Mr Odinga arrived on board a private jet shortly after 10 pm accompanied by members of his family. He said his visit to South Africa was private.
On hand to welcome the prime minister on his return were Lands minister James Orengo, Medical Services minister Prof Anyang' Nyong'o and Public Services minister Dalmas Otieno.
The Prime Minister will have to wear sunglasses to protect his eyes from sunlight and wind for about a week as he recovers from the operation, which he said was successful.
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"Mr Odinga said political crisis in Zimbabwe is an embarrassment to Africa."
Poor Raila. Poor compromized Raila.
He must deliver for the white man.
There is a similar, intractable, larger and even more embarrassing political crisis in Kenya - unless Raila knows something about Kenya's elections2007 that the wazalendo who died thereafter and the rest of Kenyans who voted for ODM don't know.
"Private visit"? No. Raila IS a PUBLIC servant. And a public servant necessarily gives up his privacy. THAT is the bedrock understanding.
The lands of the African Child in SOuth Africa is still squatted upon by those that commandeered the lands, tormented, enslaved, raped and murdered their ancestors. The African Child is still denied in South Africa. South Africa is STILL and embarassment to the African Child.
What is the purpose of Raila's visit to South Africa - if not to assist the African Child in reclaiming a birth right?
Did Raila meet with any terrorists in South Africa? International criminals who would harm Africa and the African Child infest South Africa. The recent spectacle of UK's ex-Prime Minister Thatcher's son is only one prominent case in point. THAT was an and still is an embarassment to Africa. What is Raila's comment on this?
Did Raila meet with any saboteurs and treasonous Kenyans in diaspora who harbour designs on Kenya and Africa in general and Kenya in particular? These are questions for which a legitimate sovereign government in Kenya - if there is one - MUST have, or seek answers.
NO EXCUSES.
If Raila wants privacy, he should get out of public life.
No tears: Raila's used up the goodwill he had in plenty last year when he sold out the wazalendo. Now, payback is a matter of time.