'Tsvangirai's document sounded like a farewell speech'

MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai has been criticised after he published a document titled: "Personal Reflections", in which he revisits last year's elections, defends his womanising and proposes talks for another coalition government.

Analysts said it was folly of Mr Tsvangirai to attempt to discredit the elections he overwhelmingly lost nearly a year ago and attempt to exonerate himself from his sexual escapades.

The document came a few days before the anniversary of last year's elections.

Mr Tsvangirai alleged electoral fraud in the elections in which he was walloped by President Mugabe when he managed only 34 percent of the vote compared to the President's 62. Zanu-PF also clinched the two-thirds majority in Parliament.

University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Charity Manyeruke scoffed at Tsvangirai, saying the country's elections had been endorsed by "stakeholders that matter", namely SADC, the African Union, the African Carribean and Pacific bloc and lately the acknowledgement by the European Union ambassador Mr Aldo Dell'Ariccia, who declared that there was no leadership crisis in the country.

"For Tsvangirai to say the elections were not free and fair, is rather too late, irrelevant and not worth our attention," she said.

"We should focus on building the country and the economy now."

Dr Manyeruke said Zanu-PF's victory in last year's elections buried the coalition government as the people overwhelmingly asserted their choice.

Midlands State University lecturer Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri, said Mr Tsvangirai was trying to get media attention and relevance in the political field.

"What he is trying to do is to find anything that will bring attention to him and by publishing the document he seeks to get visibility," he said.

He dismissed the idea of another coalition.

"In the last elections, the people were decisive as they showed their clear choice," said Dr Mhiripiri. "The GNU was a compromise when people voted in a particular manner and to bring about another GNU would be a betrayal for the people who voted for Zanu-PF," said Dr Mhiripiri.

He said Mr Tsvangirai should not entertain the idea of getting power "through the back door".

Jacob Mafume, spokesperson of the MDC Renewal Team, a rival faction within the opposition party, said Mr Tsvangirai's document confirmed what he had been accused of within the party and sounded like a farewell speech.

"My first sentiments was that it was an admission for his personal indiscretions, his issues with women and keeping the eye off the ball or losing focus, all of which we have said all along and have been contained in the charges laid in the disciplinary tribunal (against him)," said Mr Mafume.

"It was like a farewell speech, good in some respects; bad in others, but a farewell speech all the same."

Tsvangirai claimed he knew "the shenanigans from Zanu-PF were at play" ahead of elections, "we had judged that our sheer numbers were going to overwhelm the electoral mischief Zanu-PF had planned."

Ironically, Mr Tsvangirai had been appointed by the principals of the inclusive Government to oversee operations at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, including securing funding for the body in preparation for the elections.

In defence of his womanising behaviour, which has been well documented, Tsvangirai claimed that he is a "man greatly misunderstood".