News / National
The only threat to Zimbabwe's sovereignty is Zanu-PF's political culture
21 Jun 2011 at 09:31hrs | Views
The only threat to Zimbabwe's sovereignty at the moment is Zanu-PF's political culture, says MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai.
Addressing thousands of MDC-T supporters at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru on Sunday, Tsvangirai said Zanu-PF believes that any sign of progress is against the sovereignty of Zimbabwe.
"Zanu-PF is doing everything to make sure there is no progress. Whatever is good has to be sabotaged because they feel MDC-T will benefit. Why don't they say the people of Zimbabwe will benefit? Why do you say MDC-T will benefit? We have a problem of governance in this country," Tsvangirai
"We have tried in the MDC-T during the last two years to persuade Zanu-PF to respect the people and to change its political culture." With the backing of some partisan security chiefs, Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF thrive on intimidation and fear as sources of power.
Tsvangirai challenged the Zanu-PF aligned security chiefs to stop dabbling in politics while in uniform as that was treasonous. "If you want politics remove your uniform and we will show you the way. Stop intimidating the people."
He said the inclusive government brought about hope to the people of Zimbabwe but two years down the line there has been stagnation in all facets of the economy due to inconsistent policies.
"Ever since Zanu-PF spoke about elections this year, investors withdrew their support and those who intended to invest in this country were discouraged by policies in this country. Yes, Zimbabweans must be empowered, but when we speak of empowerment we are talking about the broad mass of the people, not just a few," he said He said the MDC-T is prepared to lead Zimbabwe. The party has a social and economic restoration plan. "We know the people of Zimbabwe want to see delivery. They want to be able to put food on their table; they want their children to get jobs. The problem we have in this country is lack of leadership. You can't say you have a leader who has an oversight over the destruction of the country," he said.
Tsvangirai further explained what transpired at the SADC summit in Sandton, South Africa.
"We came with two points – one, we need the full implementation of GPA; two, the negotiators should negotiate on disputed issues then give us timelines to elections but everything should be based on a process, and we are done.
"Zanu-PF now wants to use its mired views and its failed proposals to ignore the Livingstone resolutions to mislead the people. What surprises us is that the losing Zanu-PF wants an election when the MDC-T, insists on reforms that enable the holding of a free, fair, legitimate election. When Zanu-PF insists that it wants elections, it wants to follow its rules: violence, fraud, all activities that will never come near a free and fair election," said Tsvangirai.
"They don't want reforms. They want to repeat the violence they unleashed on the people in the run – up to the sham 27 June presidential run – off. Election roadmap must be supported by the people of Zimbabwe, by SADC, by the AU and by the international community.
Then we go for an election."
"The will of the people must be respected. We hear some of the soldiers saying we will not do this or that, but why not speak after the holding of legitimate elections then decide what soldiers and police officers are doing.
"We don't argue with police and soldiers. There is a distinction between individual and institutional attitudes, we agreed in the constitution that the security sector is a national institution, but we know there are individuals within the institutions who have their own problems. If they want to be politicians, they should remove the uniforms and campaign so that the people of Zimbabwe decide for themselves," he said.
Tendai Biti, the MDC-T Secretary General said professional soldiers salute and respect the people. "There should be security sector reforms so that soldiers and policemen are out of politics. Soldiers should salute the constitutional government of the day without discrimination, and not issue unconstitutional, treasonous statements that have come out of the likes of Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba," Biti said.
Theresa Makone, the MDC-T national women chairperson said women of Zimbabwe are tired of Zanu-PF and it should go.
"We are tired of militarised villages; we are tired of villagised military; they want to intimidate us as women so that we do not go and vote. But this time, with the last iota of strength in us, we are going to vote Mugabe and Zanu-PF out," she said.
Makone said women lost everything to Zanu-PF. "We have feared these security forces for a long time.
What did our fear yield? Women were raped, their children murdered, they were widowed, what else is there to lose? We are ready to drive the last mile to a new Zimbabwe," she said.
The MDC-T Youth Assembly national vice chairperson, Costin Machingauta said the MDC-T is a non-violent party.
"Zanu-PF has a way of trying to destroy that which is supported by the people. I want to encourage the MDC-T youths to refrain from violence. Not engaging in violence does not mean we can not do it, but it is because we are peace loving Zimbabweans," said Machingauta.
MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai castigated the denigration of government ministers in the media when the individual ministers do not make unilateral decisions.
"Minister Biti is not the government. He is a minister responsible for the finances of the country. As a minister of government and therefore there is no decision he makes on his own without the collective endorsement of cabinet.
Does Biti have the money to give the nation? All Biti wants is the diamond money so that even civil servants salaries improve," he said.
Biti, speaking on the issue of civil servants says the MDC-T was formed to uplift the lives of every citizen of Zimbabwe including civil servants.
"Since January 2011 to now, we know diamonds are being mined and sold, but we have not received a single cent from the proceeds. In addition, we have 75 000 ghost workers on the government pay roll," said Biti.
Click here for The Real Change Times Issue 073 of 2011
Addressing thousands of MDC-T supporters at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru on Sunday, Tsvangirai said Zanu-PF believes that any sign of progress is against the sovereignty of Zimbabwe.
"Zanu-PF is doing everything to make sure there is no progress. Whatever is good has to be sabotaged because they feel MDC-T will benefit. Why don't they say the people of Zimbabwe will benefit? Why do you say MDC-T will benefit? We have a problem of governance in this country," Tsvangirai
"We have tried in the MDC-T during the last two years to persuade Zanu-PF to respect the people and to change its political culture." With the backing of some partisan security chiefs, Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF thrive on intimidation and fear as sources of power.
Tsvangirai challenged the Zanu-PF aligned security chiefs to stop dabbling in politics while in uniform as that was treasonous. "If you want politics remove your uniform and we will show you the way. Stop intimidating the people."
He said the inclusive government brought about hope to the people of Zimbabwe but two years down the line there has been stagnation in all facets of the economy due to inconsistent policies.
"Ever since Zanu-PF spoke about elections this year, investors withdrew their support and those who intended to invest in this country were discouraged by policies in this country. Yes, Zimbabweans must be empowered, but when we speak of empowerment we are talking about the broad mass of the people, not just a few," he said He said the MDC-T is prepared to lead Zimbabwe. The party has a social and economic restoration plan. "We know the people of Zimbabwe want to see delivery. They want to be able to put food on their table; they want their children to get jobs. The problem we have in this country is lack of leadership. You can't say you have a leader who has an oversight over the destruction of the country," he said.
Tsvangirai further explained what transpired at the SADC summit in Sandton, South Africa.
"We came with two points – one, we need the full implementation of GPA; two, the negotiators should negotiate on disputed issues then give us timelines to elections but everything should be based on a process, and we are done.
"Zanu-PF now wants to use its mired views and its failed proposals to ignore the Livingstone resolutions to mislead the people. What surprises us is that the losing Zanu-PF wants an election when the MDC-T, insists on reforms that enable the holding of a free, fair, legitimate election. When Zanu-PF insists that it wants elections, it wants to follow its rules: violence, fraud, all activities that will never come near a free and fair election," said Tsvangirai.
"They don't want reforms. They want to repeat the violence they unleashed on the people in the run – up to the sham 27 June presidential run – off. Election roadmap must be supported by the people of Zimbabwe, by SADC, by the AU and by the international community.
Then we go for an election."
"The will of the people must be respected. We hear some of the soldiers saying we will not do this or that, but why not speak after the holding of legitimate elections then decide what soldiers and police officers are doing.
"We don't argue with police and soldiers. There is a distinction between individual and institutional attitudes, we agreed in the constitution that the security sector is a national institution, but we know there are individuals within the institutions who have their own problems. If they want to be politicians, they should remove the uniforms and campaign so that the people of Zimbabwe decide for themselves," he said.
Tendai Biti, the MDC-T Secretary General said professional soldiers salute and respect the people. "There should be security sector reforms so that soldiers and policemen are out of politics. Soldiers should salute the constitutional government of the day without discrimination, and not issue unconstitutional, treasonous statements that have come out of the likes of Brigadier-General Douglas Nyikayaramba," Biti said.
Theresa Makone, the MDC-T national women chairperson said women of Zimbabwe are tired of Zanu-PF and it should go.
"We are tired of militarised villages; we are tired of villagised military; they want to intimidate us as women so that we do not go and vote. But this time, with the last iota of strength in us, we are going to vote Mugabe and Zanu-PF out," she said.
Makone said women lost everything to Zanu-PF. "We have feared these security forces for a long time.
What did our fear yield? Women were raped, their children murdered, they were widowed, what else is there to lose? We are ready to drive the last mile to a new Zimbabwe," she said.
The MDC-T Youth Assembly national vice chairperson, Costin Machingauta said the MDC-T is a non-violent party.
"Zanu-PF has a way of trying to destroy that which is supported by the people. I want to encourage the MDC-T youths to refrain from violence. Not engaging in violence does not mean we can not do it, but it is because we are peace loving Zimbabweans," said Machingauta.
MDC-T President Morgan Tsvangirai castigated the denigration of government ministers in the media when the individual ministers do not make unilateral decisions.
"Minister Biti is not the government. He is a minister responsible for the finances of the country. As a minister of government and therefore there is no decision he makes on his own without the collective endorsement of cabinet.
Does Biti have the money to give the nation? All Biti wants is the diamond money so that even civil servants salaries improve," he said.
Biti, speaking on the issue of civil servants says the MDC-T was formed to uplift the lives of every citizen of Zimbabwe including civil servants.
"Since January 2011 to now, we know diamonds are being mined and sold, but we have not received a single cent from the proceeds. In addition, we have 75 000 ghost workers on the government pay roll," said Biti.
Click here for The Real Change Times Issue 073 of 2011
Source - The Changing Times
