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| author/source:Cape Argus (SA) |
| published:Tue 21-Aug-2001 |
| posted on this site:Sat 18-Aug-2001 |
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| Article Type : News |
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| "Change in Zimbabwe is irreversible, whether Mugabe likes it or not" |
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By Helen Bamford
Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai urged millions of his compatriots living in South Africa to come home in time to vote in next year's presidential elections. Addressing the Cape Town Press Club in Newlands on Thursday, Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), joked: "In Johannesburg, if you throw a stone, you hit a Zimbabwean. We'd like them to come home and vote." Tsvangirai also called on international observers to come to Zimbabwe at least three months before the presidential election to make sure that it was free and fair.
Tsvangirai said he was pleased to note that President Mbeki had taken a more robust stand after admitting that his policy of "quiet diplomacy" had become frustrating. "Even the international community, which was initially quite cynical about events unfolding in Zimbabwe, have realised the far-reaching implications for the rest of the region." Asked whether he believed the "assassination" of President Robert Mugabe would be in the best interests of the country, Tsvangirai said it was not something he would support and that the outcome could be disastrous.
His party was committed to non-violence and any violence committed before the presidential election would not be justified. "It is one thing to remove a president and another thing to reverse the crisis facing Zimbabwe. We believe that rather than pursuing Mugabe, we need to restore the rule of law, establish some degree of civil order and restore the independence of the police and the judiciary." Tsvangirai said his party was also reluctant to call for sanctions at this stage because the country would not survive. However, he said, "we do support certain limitations - Mugabe and his henchmen shouldn't be allowed to travel freely". "And there is no reason why Mugabe should attend the Brisbane conference of Commonwealth leaders later this year."
There had been talk about the possibility of creating a government of national unity involving the MDC and the ruling Zanu-PF party, but there would be disadvantages. "We'd be smeared with the same brush as Zanu PF, but if it is in the best interest to find common ground, it may be the only reasonable way out of the crisis." He also said Zanu-PF was going "one way". "It can neither be reformed nor resuscitated. Mugabe is the only one keeping it alive and any potential reformers have been marginalised." Tsvangirai described Zimbabwe's economic erosion in the past year as "drastic", with unemployment at 60 percent and the currency being sharply devalued - 300 Zimbabwe dollars now equals one US dollar. "We will also be facing a huge humanitarian crisis next year because we'll have to import food and we won't have the money to pay for it."
Tsvangirai had harsh words to say about Mugabe's much-criticised land policy. "Commercial agriculture, the basis of our economy, is being destroyed. You don't need to rape, kill and maim to implement land reform." Tsvangirai said between 350 000 and 400 000 farmworkers had already been displaced and many would in all likelihood not find their way back on to farms. He said most farmers would also have to start from scratch. "But for now our first priority is that people are safe. Farmers should evacuate their farms rather than sacrifice their lives for a house." In spite of the anarchy and chaos, Tsvangirai believes there is hope. "Change in Zimbabwe is irreversible, whether Mugabe likes it or not."
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