Zimbabwe: Mugabe Is Gone, Vows Tsvangirai

Photo: New Zimbabwe
President Robert Mugabe and wife Grace at a campaign rally.

MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday said Wednesday's elections will send President Robert Mugabe into his long overdue retirement, vowing this time around no one was going to stop him from assuming power.

Addressing thousands of MDC-T supporters at an open space in Chegutu, Tsvangirai said he was already looking forward to his inauguration as the new President in a few days' time, as he was confident people will overwhelmingly vote for him.

"This time around we must tell him [Mugabe] to go and rest. Come August 1, Mugabe will be history," he said. "This is the only opportunity we have to change the direction of the country. To beat all the shenanigans, people must go out and vote in their masses and our polling agents must also be vigilant."

Tsvangirai said he won the 2008 elections in the first round, but the result was rigged, to reflect that no candidate had garnered an outright victory.

"This time we will not allow them to subvert the will of the people. We are not going to allow a daylight robbery of our victory. You have a responsibility, not only to vote but to peacefully defend our vote," he told his supporters.

Tsvangirai said Zanu PF was already behaving like the "proverbial" opposition, countering whatever MDC-T was doing.

He said while the Chegutu rally had been earmarked for Pfupajena stadium, Zanu PF at the 11th hour bulldozed its way to hold its own meeting at the already booked venue.

"Instead of telling people where the party will take the people in the next five years, they are busy either disrupting our rallies or organising counter meetings," said the MDC-T leader.

He said on Wednesday, Zimbabweans have a choice between the old ways of doing things, characterised by poverty and despair or a new beginning, full of hope for prosperity.

"What will Zanu PF do in the next five years, which it did not do in the past 33 years? This is why Mugabe's campaign speeches are focussing on history. He is the one who caused all our problems," said the Prime Minister.

Tsvangirai said if elected, one of his first challenges would be to end the culture of violence and impunity. He said an MDC-T government would differentiate between party and government business. Tsvangirai said an MDC-T government would curb corruption, create jobs and reopen industries.

"When government implements programmes it should be for everyone and not only for those connected to the party. We do not want a government whose pre-occupation is to consolidate its grip on power by intimidating and scaring people," he said. "In three days' time you will have the opportunity to get out of poverty."

At another rally in Chinhoyi, Tsvangirai alleged that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was trying to steal the elections for Zanu PF and Mugabe.

The MDC-T leader said he was giving ZEC up to tomorrow to provide him information regarding how many ballot papers were printed for the presidential poll.

He said up to yesterday, ZEC had not provided him with a copy of the voters' roll, despite concerted efforts to get one.

Tsvangirai said there were plans to disenfranchise those who were previously regarded as aliens until the recent enactment of a new constitution.

"ZEC, we are giving you up to Monday to prove your integrity and exonerate yourselves from these shenanigans". You have denied people the right to register, mainly those in MDC-T strongholds like Harare," he said.

"You messed up the special vote of 70 000 in two days. How are you going to handle more than six million [people] in one day? Prove your integrity. The time to steal elections is over."

Tsvangirai revealed that they have information to the effect that ZEC printed eight million ballot papers for the president poll and another eight million for the parliamentary one.

Efforts to get a comment from ZEC were fruitless yesterday.

Tsvangirai said the country was in a "sorry" state because of lack of leadership, conflict of policy and no clear vision of where the country is going.

Tsvangirai said the record of MDC-T was there for all to see as the economy improved with food on the shelves, children going back to classrooms and the health sector improving.

  • Comment (3)

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Comments Post a comment

  • takunya_ndebvu
    Jul 30 2013, 05:51

    Cde Mabhiza;

    Indeed Cde, this ignoramus fool; this idiotic buffoon thought he could do what he did in 2008 when he unleashed terror on his own people - through the Democratic Resistance Committees (DRCs) - and murdered more than 200 of his own supporters and members in order to discredit the results of the elections.

    This time round, observer from SADC, ECOWAS, COMESA and AU are ALL EYES on the ground to see who is going to start violence in these elections. Any attempt at causing violence and confusion in the remaining one day and even after, will be dealt with decisively, firmly and harshly.

    That is why the unclever fool is directing his attack on ZEC. At every turn he has to say something about ZEC's so-called unpreparedness and yet he is not only the Prime Minister of the country (until he loses elections tomorrow, 31 July 2013) but he is also part of those participating in the election who should be supporting and assisting ZEC.

    What a foolish fool this idiot is!!! After all, ZEC is the creation of the inclusive government and so there is no reason whatsoever why the master who created ZEC should attack his own creation as that would reflect negatively on his choice.

    If ZEC fails, it is not only an indictment on the country and its people but also on the three parties that ruled this country for the past four and half years.

    Bottom line, there is no room to manoeuvre for the puppet who knows too well that he is finished come tomorrow, 31 July 2013. There is NO WAY (even in Hell) that Chematama could pull the wool over the African observers in this country.

    Chematama is going to lose these harmonised elections DECISIVELY, SQUARELY, FREELY and FAIRLY!! Chematama is doomed as he has been from the beginning when the CIA and MI6 formed a puppet and stooge party for him using funds from Westminster Foundation and channeled to this country through Amani Trust.

    As the world, and indeed, as all Africans know or maybe aware, this (creation of MDC) was to stop the land reform programme but this did not work and today Zimbabweans are the owners of the land of Madzimbahwe; the land of Mbuya Nehanda Nyakasikana!!

    There is no going back in our quest - as Africans - to repossess EVERYTHING that was or is in the hands of invaders of our lands. This is what the people of Zimbabwe are going to be voting for tomorrow - indigenisation, empowerment and the creation of jobs for our youths that are coming out of schools and colleges.

  • mabhiza
    Jul 29 2013, 04:28

    The pathetic stooge-Tsvangi and his MDC thugs are in for a humiliation at the polls.They will be punished for their corrupt and sell out ways.The inclusive govt exposed MDC left right and center as a directionless, corrupt and ideologically bankrupt organisation.Instead of working for the beterment of the country,Tsvangi resorted to promiscuity,sleeping with countless women and buying properties with government funds.Well Tsvangi,your punishment is on its way and it will be delivered to you on July 31 when you will be routed heavily and that will mark the end of your treasonous political career.

  • mabhiza
    Jul 29 2013, 05:08

    Tsvangirai,your days are numbered.An election defeat is waiting for you at the ballot box.This time the election is very peaceful,i know you wanted it to be violent so that you have a basis for refusing to accept the election results.Your foolish attempts to discredit the elections with unsubstantiated claims of rigging will not achieve anything because this time SADC adn AU will declare the elections free and fair after President Mugabe wins overwhelmingly.

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