PRIME MINISTER TSVANGIRAI . . . told followers to prepare for new elections

HARARE – Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called for an African peacekeeping force for Zimbabwe to ensure planned elections to choose a new government to replace his uneasy coalition with President Robert Mugabe are free and fair.

Addressing supporters in Chitungwiza city stronghold of his MDC party, Tsvangirai told followers to prepare for new elections, saying ongoing talks to resolve his power-sharing dispute wit Mugabe were not making much progress, hinting that the only way to end the deadlock was through an election.

“We don’t want a violent election but an environment for a free and fair election,” Tsvangirai said. He added: “We have to stop the violence before the election. Let’s bring in foreign observers. Why don’t we have a peacekeeping force so that everyone is going to exercise their democratic rights.

“Why don’t we have a peacekeeping force so that we have peace and stability before we conduct an election. If we can’t do it ourselves lets use SADC (Southern African Development Community) and AU (African Union) to create that environment for a free and fair election.”

Under a 2008 power sharing deal signed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai that gave birth to their coalition government, Zimbabwe should hold fresh elections following the drafting of a new and democratic constitution to ensure the new vote is free and fair.

But the constitutional reforms are lagging behind by at least seven months suggesting the new vote that was initially expected in 2011 might have to be delayed to probably 2012 or 2013.

In addition, reports of intimidation by Zimbabwe army soldiers and supporters of Mugabe who want to force villagers’ to support the controversial Kariba draft constitution as the foundation of a new constitution have tainted the credibility of the constitutional reform exercise.

The Kariba draft that was secretly authored in 2007 by Mugabe’s ZANU PF party and the two MDC parties of Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara. Critics say the draft leaves untouched the wide-sweeping presidential powers that Mugabe continues to enjoy even after formation of the unity government.

Tsvangirai’s calls on supporters to prepare for elections appeared in response to comments by Mugabe last week that Zimbabwe should hold new elections whether the constitutional reform exercise is successful or not.

Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe in a first round presidential vote in March 2008 and analysts had tipped him to clinch the decisive second round ballot but the then opposition leader withdrew from the poll citing

state sponsored violence against his supporters.

At least 200 supporters of Tsvangirai’s MDC party are believed to have died while no less than 10 000 were said to have been displaced in the violence in the run up to the June 2008 run-off poll won by Mugabe as sole candidate after the forced withdrawal of his challenger.

However Mugabe’s victory was rejected by the international community including some of his African allies forcing him to agree to form a power sharing a government with his former opposition foes. – ZimOnline