News / National
MDC-T meets Zambian VP seeking support
14 Aug 2012 at 06:53hrs | Views
Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change delegation has met Zambian Vice-President Guy Scott seeking the neighbouring country's support ahead of Friday's Sadc summit where Zimbabwe's preparations for general elections are expected to top the agenda.
Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe led the MDC-T delegation to Lusaka last Friday.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had visited Mozambique and Tanzania last week to drum up support ahead of the crucial summit.
Khupe told journalists after the meeting with Scott that her party expected Sadc to help Zimbabwe organise a free and fair poll.
"Our plea to the Zambian government is that we want them to assist us by speaking . . . so that the people of Zimbabwe have got a free and fair election because we don't want an election for the sake of it," she said.
"We want an election which is going to be credible and an election which is going to be legitimate; an election which is going to be free and fair and more importantly an election which is going to respect the will of the people."
Zambian President Michael Sata is viewed as one of President Robert Mugabe's few remaining allies in Sadc and has in the past chided the MDC-T claiming it was a puppet of the West.
At previous Sadc summits, Sata reportedly became a spectacle when he chanted Zanu PF slogans.
Khupe said parties in the inclusive government were working hard to ensure a free and fair poll.
"We don't want a repeat of 2008 as you know that we are in this inclusive government to make sure that we level the playing field. We are working very hard to make sure that we level the playing field," she said.
"Whoever wins the next elections is allowed to run the country, so that we have got smooth transition of power like what happened here in Zambia."
During a recent visit to London, Sata was greeted by Zimbabweans based in the United Kingdom who accused him of siding with Mugabe.
Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe led the MDC-T delegation to Lusaka last Friday.
Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai had visited Mozambique and Tanzania last week to drum up support ahead of the crucial summit.
Khupe told journalists after the meeting with Scott that her party expected Sadc to help Zimbabwe organise a free and fair poll.
"Our plea to the Zambian government is that we want them to assist us by speaking . . . so that the people of Zimbabwe have got a free and fair election because we don't want an election for the sake of it," she said.
"We want an election which is going to be credible and an election which is going to be legitimate; an election which is going to be free and fair and more importantly an election which is going to respect the will of the people."
Zambian President Michael Sata is viewed as one of President Robert Mugabe's few remaining allies in Sadc and has in the past chided the MDC-T claiming it was a puppet of the West.
At previous Sadc summits, Sata reportedly became a spectacle when he chanted Zanu PF slogans.
Khupe said parties in the inclusive government were working hard to ensure a free and fair poll.
"We don't want a repeat of 2008 as you know that we are in this inclusive government to make sure that we level the playing field. We are working very hard to make sure that we level the playing field," she said.
"Whoever wins the next elections is allowed to run the country, so that we have got smooth transition of power like what happened here in Zambia."
During a recent visit to London, Sata was greeted by Zimbabweans based in the United Kingdom who accused him of siding with Mugabe.
Source - newsday
