27 April, 2009
MDC President, Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday raised concerns over
outstanding issues that are affecting the inclusive government formed in
February.
He was addressing over 30 000 MDC supporters gathered at Chinhoyi Stadium in
Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West province to commemorate the MDC's 10th
anniversary celebrations.
Although the President gave a commitment that there was no going back on the
inclusive government, he was deeply concerned that the inclusive government
was facing a number of teething problems that were affecting its day-to-day
operations.
"There's no reverse on the inclusive government. There will be insults, but
we will get there. We have one project, which is the inclusive government.
It has specific policies and specific targets, which is to pull this country
out of the quagmire," Hon. Tsvangirai said.
"We respect each other, although we may disagree. There's nothing Mugabe
does without me approving and there is nothing I do without him approving,"
he said.
However, Hon. Tsvangirai said some of the challenges the government was
facing included the appointments of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor,
the Attorney-General, ambassadors, permanent secretaries and the swearing of
Senator Roy Bennett, the MDC national treasurer as deputy Agriculture
minister.
He also called for the immediate release of all political prisoners such as,
Gandhi Mudzingwa, his former personal aide and Chris Dhlamini, the MDC head
of security.
Hon. Tsvangirai also raised concerns over the lawlessness that was taking
place in some farms.
"Let's not take the law into our hands. We should be able to distinguish
between land issues and criminality. We will not tolerate violence and chaos
that is taking place in some farms especially here in Mashonaland West
province," he warned.
"The issue that we all should speak with one voice is the land," Hon.
Tsvangirai said.
He explained that under the Global Political Agreement (GPA) there was no
room for taking the law into one's hands.
President Tsvangirai also called for the training of the police and army in
human rights issues in order for them to conduct their duties
professionally, without being partisan.
The president also paid tribute to several MDC supporters from Mashonaland
West province and Senator Bennett who were recently released from remand
prison on trumped-up charges of banditry, terrorism and insurgency.
Those who were abducted by the State security agents and spent at least
three months in remand are; MDC Mashonaland West provincial chairperson,
Concilia Chinanzvavana, and her husband, Manuel Chinanzvavana, Violet
Mupfuranhewe and her husband Collen Mutemangau and their two year-old son,
Nigel Mutemangau.
"They are the true cadres of the nation. We salute you because without your
sacrifices, the MDC would not be what it is today," said President
Tsvangirai.
The President was accompanied by senior MDC leaders who included, the
national chairman, Hon. Lovemore Moyo, Senator Bennett, national organising
secretary, Hon. Elias Mudzuri and the secretary for information and
publicity, Hon. Nelson Chamisa.
Meanwhile, Hon. Chamisa, who is also the MP for Kuwadzana East in Harare on
Sunday, told a report back rally in the constituency that the inclusive
government was trying to solve problems bedevilling residents.
"We want to make sure that residents have affordable water and electricity
while those areas that have no electricity we will make sure that something
is done as a matter of urgency," Hon. Chamisa told over 10 000 MDC
supporters gathered at the rally.
Speaking at the same rally Senator Bennett said was humbled by the support
he had received from the people during his incarceration in Mutare but said
there was an unstoppable winds of change engulfing the country.
"All the persecution I have suffered is unwarranted and an attempt to stop
the winds of change. When I was in prison you prayed for me. And I want to
thank you all the people of Zimbabwe for remaining resolute in the face of
such harassment and terror," he said.
Bennett said nothing could stop the winds of change adding the persecution
he had suffered was nothing as compared to the violence endured by many
Zimbabweans across the country during election-related violence last year.
He said many paid the ultimate prize.
"Zanu PF is scared of the people going to vote. The only thing that can
defeat Zanu PF is the X. No amount of persecution can stop an idea whose
time has come. These people think they can stop change by refusing to swear
me into office. But no one can ever go against the people and God and hope
to succeed," said Senator Bennett
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