Saturday, August 7, 2010

President Tsvangirai says transition irreversible

Dr Morgan Tsvangirai,MDC President
Monday 02 August 2010

The MDC President, Dr Morgan Tsvangirai has said the road to a new Zimbabwe was irreversible, and new, free and fair elections next year will see the MDC forming an exclusive government. Addressing thousands of supporters at Old Lwendulo Grounds in Hwange, Matabeleland North province, President Tsvangirai said there was progress in preparations for a fresh, free and fair election that the MDC is confident of winning resoundingly.

President Tsvangirai addressed the rally after a key meeting with the Matabeleland North provincial council meeting and the national leadership. President Tsvangirai apprised the people who thronged the rally on the progress made by the inclusive government, the Constitution-making process, elections. He also unveiled the MDC new Zimbabwe charter.

President Tsvangirai said the people of Zimbabwe had invested a lot in the MDC in order to bring real change to Zimbabwe. “Anyone who stands in the way of the MDC in delivering real change is undermining the objective of the people of Zimbabwe who invested in the MDC to deliver real change to the country, politically, socially and economically,” President Tsvangirai said. “We remain focused on this objective”.

He said that there were now commissions in place for elections, human rights and media. “We want to give more freedoms to the people rather than contain the freedom of the people. Other people did not want to see change, but they were pushed for change. The process of transition is an irreversible process to a free and fair election, because we can not continue to have this mule powered government as it is not doing much”.

President Tsvangirai also urged the people to participate in the ongoing public hearings on a new Constitution. “This is your opportunity to express your views in order to lay the basis of the leadership you want to see,” President Tsvangirai said. The rally was attended by the party’s National Standing Committee and members of the national executive and Matabeleland North provincial leadership.

On Sunday, President Tsvangirai addressed thousands of MDC supporters at another Real Change rally in Makokoba, Bulawayo where he said the MDC is strengthening the agenda of real change, and says the party was ready for a free and fair election expected to end the tenure of the transitional government. “Given the two years in government it shows that MDC can do better and no other party can deliver real change except the people’s movement and we are going to hold on,” he said.

The PM also hinted that the SADC team should be expected to jet in the country in the next two weeks to review progress in the GPA considering the violations of the GPA and the many outstanding issues of the GPA such as the appointment of Senator Roy Bennett as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and decision making in issues of governance. “The MDC continues to talk against unilateral decisions being made by Mugabe and yet he is just a partner in government. These toxic issues of jingles and decision making compromise and undermine the legitimacy of the GPA,” he said.

The rally was attended by the national Organising Secretary, Hon. Elias Mudzuri, deputy Organising Secretary, Hon. Morgen Komichi, Treasurer-General, Hon. Roy Bennett, the national Spokesperson, Hon. Nelson Chamisa, deputy spokesperson hon. Tabitha Khumalo and the Bulawayo provincial leadership.