MDC-T pushes for national dialogue

MDC-T president Morgan Tsvangirai has vowed to push for national dialogue and fresh polls by December next year despite the on-going infighting in his party, including his defeat last year. Addressing a rally in Norton Sunday, Tsvangirai said the current socio-political and economic woes bedevilling the country could only be solved by fresh polls which he said he will push for next year.

He said he was convinced that all stakeholders were going to agree with his economic vision and realise that Zanu PF had no capacity to drive the country's economic revival.

"We are facing a national crisis in which (President Robert) Mugabe has become a national liability who thinks he can rule the people for his entire life, we want to make sure this is diluted. We want to dismantle this hegemony in Zanu PF," he said.

Tsvangirai lost his third presidential attempt to Mugabe in last year's election by a wide margin, leading to his party to tatter on factional lines, with a group led by secretary-general Tendai Biti calling for Tsvangirai to stepping down while others want him to stay put.

The former prime minister said he was going to mobilise his supporters to force Mugabe and Zanu PF into another election.

"We have been spectators while the right of people to express themselves through the ballot was violated, but we are saying it's time for change," he said.

"To correct that, we need to go for fresh elections which we are going to make sure that no one's vote is abused. The sooner we mobilise the masses and address this issue, the sooner we get our success," he said.

Tsvangirai said he was going to use the same tricks used before when he forced Mugabe to a negotiating table which then led to the formation of an inclusive government to force the Zanu PF strongman to another fresh election.

"We have managed to do it before so we will again push for a national dialogue as we want elections to be held next year," Tsvangirai said.

However, Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said his party was not interested in dialogue or talk of fresh elections.

"That's absolute madness. How can he call for fresh elections when he knows that Zanu PF had the majority of votes in the last election," said Gumbo.

Turning to squabbles in his party, Tsvangirai said his faction was the only "agent for change in Zimbabwe", dismissing other opposition movements as "non entities".

"MDC-T is not a party, but a struggle in which we should fight until victory is in our hands. MDC-T is the only agent for change in this country," he said.

Speaking at the same rally, acting treasurer, Theresa Makoni, said Biti and his team who have since been expelled from the party were Zanu PF agents who will pay dearly for "betraying the struggle".

She also accused Biti and Mangoma of having negotiated in bad faith on behalf of the party during the time of the inclusive government.

"We sent people to negotiate on behalf of the party but they had self-interests. It is clear now that they were not genuine all along.