Movement for Democratic Change (Harare)
Morgan Tsvangirai
22 June 2008
document
Harare — The MDC won the March 29th elections despite conditions that were far from free and fair. Our party's message of peaceful, democratic change and rebuilding a New Zimbabwe enjoys the support of the vast majority of Zimbabweans.
Our election victory confirmed this to Mugabe and since that date, he and his supporters have been waging a war against the people of Zimbabwe.
This violent retributive agenda has seen over 200,000 people internally displaced and over 86 MDC supporters killed. Over 20,000 homes have been destroyed and over 10 000 people have been injured and maimed in this orgy of violence.
For the record, there are eight broad reasons why a free and fair election is impossible. Zanu PF has already subverted the run-off through the following:
State Sponsored Violence
The police have been reduced to bystanders while Zanu PF militia commit crimes against humanity varying from rape, torture, murder, arson, abductions and other atrocities.
Zanu PF militia dressed in army regalia have been deployed to spearhead the terror campaign in the rural and urban areas. Armed Zanu PF youths are waging a terror campaign and have vowed that the MDC will not rule the county even if it wins.
The Joint Operations Command (JOC) is engineering a violent campaign to subvert the will of the people. The Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) has designed covert operations to destabilize the nation.
Zanu PF has set up over 3000 militia bases across the length and breath of the country in order to cow and intimidate MDC supporters into submission.
Death and hit squads are on the loose in all the provinces.
War veterans and Zanu PF youths are manning illegal roadblocks with impunity in complicity with the police.
The use of guns and arms of war by Zanu PF militia and war vets to campaign for Zanu PF has virtually militarized the election atmosphere.
All this is being done as State sponsored ploy to tilt the vote in favour of Zanu PF.
MDC Presidential Canidate's Campaign
The regime has crippled the MDC Presidential Candidate's campaign. MDC rallies have been banned. Court orders have been ignored. Today, Sunday the 22nd of June 2008, a mere five days before the run-off date, police refused MDC permission to hold its only Star Rally at the open space across the Harare Show Grounds. We successfully sought a High Court Order which granted us permission to proceed with our rally. Regrettably, armed Zanu PF thugs occupied the venue in order to prevent us from gathering. MDC supporters were attacked and cars were stoned at the venue. This happened in full view of the police.
Unlawful arrests of the MDC Presidential Candidate have been going on unabated. The public media has flatly refused to flight MDC adverts. To date, no single commercial has aired by the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. There is a total blackout of the MDC in the public media in clear contravention of the SADC guidelines and standards governing a free and fair election.
The hate language and the vilification of the MDC Presidential candidate by the public broadcasters and public media is unprecedented. By denying us access to the media the regime has managed to deny the MDC access to the people.
Decimation Of MDC Structures
The MDC Secretary General, Hon. Tendai Biti and MP Advocate Matinenga are illegally detained. Over 2000 MDC supporters including our polling agents are in illegal detention. The arrests have targeted members of Parliament, Councillors, the MDC structures and election agents. Over 200 000 people have been internally displaced. The whole game plan is designed to cripple the MDC campaign.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec)
The MDC is shocked by the level of partisanship of ZEC. We have lost confidence in ZEC. The organization has been staffed by war veterans and Zanu PF militia. In fact, as it stands now, ZEC is not in charge of the management of this election.
The Media
The media is under attack. There is a complete blackout of the MDC's campaign. Journalists are being harassed and intimidated and foreign journalists barred from entering the country.
The Zanu PF Presidential Candidate
The Zanu PF candidate has no respect for the MDC, observers, the regional and international community. He has made public pronouncements to the effect that he will not accept defeat. He has declared war by saying that the bullet has replaced the ballot. The statement by General Chiwenga and Commissioner of Prisons Zimondi that they will not respect and accept the will of the people is regrettable and is a clear manifestation that a free and fair election is impossible.
Planned Election Rigging By Zanu PF
The MDC has unearthed an elaborate and decisive plan by Zanu PF to rig the elections through the following measures:
i. Commandeering the uniformed forces to use the postal ballot and forcing them to vote in front of their superiors.
ii. The prevention of MDC election agents to get to the polling stations through roadblocks and arrests.
iii. The three Mashonaland provinces have been identified as rigging centres where ballots are going to be stuffed.
iv. Villagers are having their national identity cards confiscated denying them their right to vote.
v. There is a plan to record the serial numbers of ballot papers so as to intimidate voters.
vi. The holding of forced pungwes (overnight meetings) where MDC supporters are beaten and forced to undergo "re-education".
vii. The abuse of traditional leaders.
viii. The use of massive violence as a weapon to influence the ballot.
Conclusion
Given the totality of these circumstances, we believe a credible election, which reflects the will of the people is impossible. We remain unreservedly committed to free and fair elections in the country. The conditions prevailing as of today do not permit the holding of a credible poll.
The militia, war veterans and even Mugabe himself have made it clear that anyone that votes for me in the forthcoming election faces the very real possibility of being killed.
Zimbabweans have also shown how brave and resilient they can be. They have withstood years of brutality, impoverishment and intimidation. They are dedicated to a New democratic Zimbabwe.
But we in the MDC, cannot ask them to cast their vote on June 27th when that vote could cost them their lives.
Therefore we in the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process.
The courageous people of this country, and the people of the MDC have done everything humanly and democratically possible to deliver a New Zimbabwe under a New Government.
We urge SADC, AU and the United Nations to intervene urgently in this unprecedented situation to restore the rule of law, peace, and conditions for a free and fair election.
We are going to articulate our vision and the way forward to the people of Zimbabwe and the world on Wednesday, after further consulting the people.
Finally, we salute and thank all the suppressed masses of Zimbabwe who have been maimed, raped, tortured, lost homes and properties in the pursuit of a noble cause of wishing to see a free and democratic Zimbabwe. I sympathize with you over the loss of your loved ones in these final phases of the struggle.
Victory is certain, it can only be delayed.
I thank you.
President Morgan Tsvangirai
Movement for Democratic Change
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I think this is a very unselfish decision by the MDC. Morgan has put his people first. He clearly does not think it is fair to ask his people to vote for him, if that vote could lead to their death. Which is a very real possibility. Its a very sad day for democracy. As there is none in Zimbabwe.
Is "political correctness" so damnably important that the most central facts at issue are not mentionable? viz:that it is chiefly those Zimbabweans who follow the Judaeo-Christian codes of interpersonal conduct that are being murdered, raped, maimed, dismembered, etc. simply because they believe in being fair and decent towards others. Why can't "religion" be mentioned? Are Christians and Jews speaking out? I have not see this, and am disgusted that my fellow people of the Book are not being heard. Where are the Americans, the Brits, the Aussies, the Canadians, the Europeans? Are they afraid of being "politically incorrect?" Political correctness be damned. Mugabe is an antiSemitic and antiChristian genocidist fully deserving trial for such by the African community and the U.N. Stop pandering to him and all injustice in Africa.Get your continent back into civilized hands. Is this what you had in mind when the colonialists left?
Mugabe has by his own hand sealed his fate and will face the fury of a holy God. He and his evil gangs will forever scream in hell. The innocent people of Zim will soon taste true freedom, free from the tyranny of this madman. What a waste of such a wonderful country. Justice is the Lord's; HE WILL REPAY!
My personal reaction to this news piece could simply be summed up by the words above by commentators Glyph and awt_independent. Dead on, succinct, and with righteous hearts; compliments to them both. To commentator incorrectski I should like to point out a few things. First, you could not be more correct that Mugabe is responsible for genocide. However, that Christians, Jews, the UN, and other powers have done nothing or should jump right in, is wrong. From any side you look at it, both religious and political powers have not only been trying to help, they’ve been responsible for preventing untold millions from dying of starvation, just for openers. As a Christian, I can tell you that personally I pray daily for the good people of Zimbabwe. You wish intervention? Well, here are two examples of how the world not only doesn’t do it on time, but more importantly, but why and how they perceive it : There was once a soldier who fought for his country and earned one of the highest decorations the nation had to offer. The country was devastated by unemployment and sky rocketing inflation ~ people where starving. He came forward as a leader and provided food and work, and a renewed national pride. He built the most modern road system in the world, and invested heavily in science. He was also a mad man, and his name was Adolf Hitler. Hindsight taught us that “we” should have stopped him early on, but politics said “Peace in our time” (A. Neville Chamberlain). There was another dictator who, for over twenty years, brutally suppressed his people. Anyone not agreeing with him were either tortured or shot outright. One ethnic group in particular didn’t make him real happy, so he had his air force fly over the villages and drop poison gas, killing children, men and women, in the streets and in their homes. At one point this ruthless SOB invaded a neighboring country to steal their resources. He was beaten back with the help of allies. A few years later, his blood thirsty ways and overt malfeasance was finally brought to an end. If you haven’t guessed, the later is Saddam Hussein of Iraq. Yet to this day there are people around the world (including the U.S.) who say that taking him out was a bad thing. (Removing a cancer to world society is bad?) Perception, my friend, perception. Even if the great powers of the world wanted to, (and I am sure that there are many that do), invading Zimbabwe would, as we know, start a whole new round of clamorous BS about colonialism, the ‘evil whites’, how it’s all about stealing resources, et cetera. (Has nobody ever noticed that the U.S. WAS A COLONY, and has done more to rid the world of this practice than any other in history?) No, as much as most of the civilized world would like to see Mugabe and his bloodthirsty henchmen be gone in a swift strike, it won’t be done as you (or I) might like. This is where African Leadership comes in. FINALLY, in the past few days, a number of Africa’s leaders are at least saying something ~ now, if they would only DO something! (Though don’t expect it from the spineless sycophants like Mbeki.) Blessings to you
Carpepax - dead right. I am sure that the meglomania in Mugabe would relish the thought of a glorious Valhalla on the pyre of Western intervention. The negative repercussions would be felt throughout Africa for decades to come. There is no choice - the only salvation for Zimbabwe lies with the AU/SADC/South Africa.
The question is how long will it takes these powers to come to the conclusion that the continent simply cannot afford the Mugabes of this world? The longer they take, the more Africa will fall behind Asia, Central and Southern America and the more embittered will become the people who see that their leaders have failed them.
Fellow african,zimbawbe this polititians are not for the intress of zimbadwe of the African people but they are there for the whites,the white were ruling us and enslaving us.fellow africans mogarbi is the for the you and all African as a hole we shall aways be by your size morgabi in all we can as a True Africa a pan Africanism as a whole.we shall always remember you and your blessed country in our prayers.Long live morgabi long live Africa peace is what we need
I'd like to send the people of Zimbabwe my sincerest best wishes. I am very worried for them tonight.
Tomorrow is another day and things may get worse before they get better, but I'm sure they'll get better.