I will not die in office, says Tsvangirai

MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai has renewed calls for an early election saying the country's dire economic situation can only be resolved by returning to the polls.

Speaking at a rally held at Tafara in Chipinge East, Tsvangirai said 2018 was too far for an election as companies continued to close, while millions remained unemployed.

"The economic situation is telling us that the election must come earlier than 2018," he said. "It is that [national] crisis that we should deal with and we are calling for dialogue of all stakeholders and not a second GNU [Government of National Unity] as misinterpreted by others."

Zimbabwe's unemployment rate is hovering well over 80% according to estimates, while investors are reluctant to bring in capital into the ailing economy.

Tsvangirai was trounced in last year's July 31 elections which brought an end to the four year old inclusive government.

Turning to strife bedeviling the MDC lately, Tsvangirai said he would hand over party leadership to a younger person at a "certain" time.

"Leadership renewal is good but it becomes an issue for the MDC and not those who are 90 years and want to die in office. I don't want to die in office.

"I will leave the party to a new generation at a certain stage but it will only happen through a congress and not a hostile takeover," he said.

His remarks come after MDC deputy treasurer Elton Mangoma and other party leaders were recently beaten up for calling for Tsvangirai's ouster.

"We will have our congress. We are bringing it forward from 2016. Everyone will be free to contest any position. It is that forum which makes and unmakes leaders in the MDC, he said.

"If you are an MDC person and you see yourself being lauded by Zanu PF, then there is something wrong with you."

Tsvangirai denounced violence and said the MDC should never be compared to Zanu PF arguing that after all "it is Mugabe who said that he has degrees in violence".
"Violence is not a part of our values," he said.