News / National
'Stop obstructing the electoral process,' Mugabe tells Tsvangirai
19 Jul 2013 at 04:33hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Mugabe has thrown the gauntlet at MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai to go for elections on 31 July and stop obstructing the electoral process after the Prime Minister claimed that Zanu-PF was scheming to delay the polls.
Mugabe was responding to Mr Tsvangirai's claims at a rally in Gokwe on Wednesday that Zanu-PF wants the elections postponed when it is the MDC formations who have been battling to halt the polls.
Addressing his supporters at the party's Mashonaland West Star Rally in Chinhoyi yesterday, Mugabe said Mr Tsvangirai and the MDC formations should set the stage for the election by withdrawing the court cases meant to defer the polls.
"I was happy to hear that Mr Tsvangirai now wants to have elections by 31 July. Ndikati baba-we . . . He is saying kuti tisu Zanu-PF takaramba kuti maelections awuye musi wa 31 July (ukuthi yithi abe Zanu-PF esayalayo ukuthi ama elections abe mhlaka 31 July) . . . Hanzi ivo ndovarimberi isu tiri kumashure (kuthiwa bona baphambili thina sisemuva). . . munhu mukuru ataura ka uyu (ngumuntu omdala okhulumileyo)! My challenge to him is that let us be sincere. Let's all help the processes that are leading to the elections and let us not go ahead with court applications that are against the elections," he said.
The MDC formations, the Mugabe said, should assist the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in holding the election rather than wantonly criticise the electoral body.
He said the coalition government was established to set conditions for a free and fair election and was not an end in itself.
"Let's also freely help Zec, let's freely help the security forces and let's help all the processes that are leading to the election rather than offering unjustified criticism," he said.
"Our parties should offer solutions in various areas where we feel Zec is not doing well. We want inter-party vigilance from all groups tichibatsirana neZec kwete kuti tigovashora. These are our elections and they are not an election for Zec."
Mugabe said Zec was there to assist politicians through facilitating the elections.
Mugabe was responding to Mr Tsvangirai's claims at a rally in Gokwe on Wednesday that Zanu-PF wants the elections postponed when it is the MDC formations who have been battling to halt the polls.
Addressing his supporters at the party's Mashonaland West Star Rally in Chinhoyi yesterday, Mugabe said Mr Tsvangirai and the MDC formations should set the stage for the election by withdrawing the court cases meant to defer the polls.
"I was happy to hear that Mr Tsvangirai now wants to have elections by 31 July. Ndikati baba-we . . . He is saying kuti tisu Zanu-PF takaramba kuti maelections awuye musi wa 31 July (ukuthi yithi abe Zanu-PF esayalayo ukuthi ama elections abe mhlaka 31 July) . . . Hanzi ivo ndovarimberi isu tiri kumashure (kuthiwa bona baphambili thina sisemuva). . . munhu mukuru ataura ka uyu (ngumuntu omdala okhulumileyo)! My challenge to him is that let us be sincere. Let's all help the processes that are leading to the elections and let us not go ahead with court applications that are against the elections," he said.
He said the coalition government was established to set conditions for a free and fair election and was not an end in itself.
"Let's also freely help Zec, let's freely help the security forces and let's help all the processes that are leading to the election rather than offering unjustified criticism," he said.
"Our parties should offer solutions in various areas where we feel Zec is not doing well. We want inter-party vigilance from all groups tichibatsirana neZec kwete kuti tigovashora. These are our elections and they are not an election for Zec."
Mugabe said Zec was there to assist politicians through facilitating the elections.
Source - chronicle
