Published by the government of Zimbabwe
22 May 2008
Harare — THE United States has ordered MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai to end his self-imposed exile and return home for the presidential election run-off.
United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee, speaking in South Africa on Tuesday, ordered Tsvangirai to end the self-imposed exile, according to media reports.
". . . he should be back showing his people that he cares every bit as much for them as they do for him," McGee said.
The order came after Zanu-PF dismissed claims by the opposition that the Government planned to assassinate him alongside 30 other top officials as a "fantasy".
There are also fears that Tsvangirai is losing campaign time while holed up in South Africa as Zanu-PF gears up for the run-off set for June 27.
McGee is one of the Western ambassadors who coerced Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa -- who chairs Sadc -- to convene an extraordinary summit on Zimbabwe's elections when the polls were still to be concluded.
Recently, Tsvangirai -- who has been out of the country since shortly after March 29 claiming to be on a diplomatic offensive -- suffered a dent to his diplomatic initiative when Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika refused to meet him.
Diplomatic sources in Malawi said Malawian authorities ordered Tsvangirai back to where he was flying from while airborne.
He had gone ahead to fly to Malawi following assurances by British authorities that President wa Mutharika would meet him.
But the Malawian authorities would not entertain him and were, in fact, keen to know who was providing Tsvangirai with the private jet he has been using for his journeys.
It has since been established that the jet belongs to South African businessman Tokyo Sexwale and Tsvangirai has hired it using money provided by the British.
National Constitutional Assembly chairman Lovemore Madhuku said the impression Tsvangirai was creating was that he is "special".
Independent MP Jonathan Moyo said: "You can't wish to be president of Zimbabwe by remote control."
John Makumbe, a political analyst with close ties to MDC-T, warned Tsvangirai would be seen as "less of a leader" than President Mugabe if he delayed his return.
"If he doesn't come back, he will be demonstrating that he is fearful of (President) Mugabe, therefore, he is less of a leader than (President) Mugabe and that will have very serious implications on his qualities as a leader," the University of Zimbabwe lecturer said.
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