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Tsvangirai has never lost an election to Mugabe - Mwonzora
21 Aug 2015 at 06:20hrs | Views
MDC-T secreatry general Douglas Mwonzora has said his leader Morgan Tsvangirai has never lost an election to President Robert Mugabe and argued that the belief that the former labour activist has no capacity to rule Zimbabwe was based on false assumption.
"Some commentators and competitors have sought to place doubt on the suitability and ability of Morgan Tsvangirai to lead the Zimbabwean opposition to victory over Zanu PF," he said.
"They argue inter alia that after a number of electoral "defeats".
It is time that a new person be found to lead the party. That way, they argue, MDC can finally win against Zanu PF." Mwonzora said this argument is based on two false assumptions. The first is the assumption that indeed Morgan Tsvangirai lost the elections to Mugabe. "The second is the assumption that this lost is solely as a result of the natural fallibilities of Morgan Tsvangirai," he said.
"As stated before, these premises are false. Morgan Tsvangirai's first contest with Mugabe was in the Constitutional Referendum of 2000. Mugabe's party and government poured in huge financial and material resources into the infamous Vote Yes campaigned. However Tsvangirai and his group, with modest resources went on to annihilate Mugabe with the win of the Vote No campaign. This famous victory underlined Morgan Tsvangirai's organisational potency." He said in a display of organising proficiency, Tsvangirai nearly snatched a majority of the seats in parliament in MDC's maiden Parliamentary contest of 2000 with a handsome 57 seats.
He said in 2002, Tsvangirai directly challenged Mugabe in the presidential race. In order to secure a Mugabe victory both the security and electoral authorities committed unspeakable acts of fraud in that election. "Tsvangirai challenged that election in the High Court of Zimbabwe. So overwhelming was the evidence of voter fraud against Mugabe that no judge would rule against Tsvangirai. However, to date the judgement has not been handed down yet," he said.
"On 29 March, 2008 Tsvangirai posted that famous victory against Mugabe in the Presidential election. The military man who was heading the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had to delay the announcement of the results by weeks to allow for "make up" to be administered on the results to force a run off election. When that run off election was called, Mugabe unleashed his terror machine on Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC which ultimately forced Tsvangirai to withdraw his candidature in order to save Zimbabwean lives. We now know that the terror campaign was meant to create leverage for Zanu PF and force a power sharing agreement which brought about the government of National Unity."
Mwonzora said in 2013, Mugabe wringed an unexpected result. We now know from the confessions of some Zanu PF people that in fact Mugabe through his junta cheated his way to victory. He said when Tsvangirai sought to challenge this result in the Constitutional Court, the Chief Justice told him that he was not allowed to bring witnesses to prove his case. It cannot be treated as a historical truism therefore that Tsvangirai ever lost to Mugabe.
"The second false argument is that Tsvangirai lost because he is Tsvangirai," he said.
"First, Tsvangirai was not the only opposition Presidential candidate in these elections. Why then did those other leaders who were not him not win the elections? In 2008 we had another credible candidate called Dr. Makoni who only managed 8% of the vote. He never complained about this result. Second, the common feature in all these elections was the state sponsored violence that was directed at Tsvangirai and his party. In 2008 alone over 300 MDC supporters and activists were murdered in cold blood by the Zanu PF military establishment."
Mwonzora said third, Tsvangirai was submitted to a lengthy and debilitating treason trial. "Still after his acquittal he was in March 2007submitted to a beating almost unto death. The glee with which Mugabe relished and celebrated the beating shocked even the most sadistic of murderers," said the SG. "Fourth, while Mugabe and his party were allowed free access to the media, Tsvangirai and his party were ordered to pay for their media coverage. However when they marshalled the resources to flight some of his advertisements on the state media, same were mostly turned down. Fifth, Mugabe , feeling the heat of battle in the 2008 Presidential Run off election started using a state helicopter to transport him from rally to rally with minimum fatigue. When Tsvangirai secured a helicopter as well, it was banned from flying him in Zimbabwe."
He said sixth, taking advantage of his immunity President Mugabe committed a lot of electoral offences including bribery when he dolled Chinese gifts and rice in exchange of votes. He said Tsvangirai neither had the immunity, opportunity nor the willingness to engage in bribery.
"Seventh, contrary to their constitutional mandate, the security forces at the instigation of the generals clearly campaigned for Mugabe while violently suppressing Tsvangirai's campaign. They granted Zanu PF militia all freedom to abrogate the law while using the same law selectively to persecute Tsvangirai and his party," he said.
"Eighth, Tsvangirai's strongholds were denied full opportunity to register as voters. An official go slow was embarked upon in all these areas by the electoral authorities responsible for voter registration. This resulted in mass disenfranchisement of thousands of Zimbabweans perceived to be aligned to the MDC. In Mugabe's strongholds on the other hand voter registration was expedited."
Mwonzora said ninth, a lot of vitriol and hate language is always directed at Tsvangirai and his supporters by Mugabe and his supporters. Tsvangirai and his supporters on the other hand cannot do the same because of the law that criminalizes insulting or undermining Mugabe. He said in fact those MDC members who have dared insult Mugabe back have been prosecuted and some jailed.
"Tsvangirai detractors argue without saying it that had it been another person leading the MDC then these irregularities would not have happened. A few historical examples illustrate the ludicrousness of this argument. When it was Joshua Nkomo and his PF Zapu posing a threat to Mugabe's power did Mugabe's terror machinery not kill people in Matatbeleland and the Midlands? When Edgar Tekere and his ZUM posed a threat to Mugabe's power were his officials not abducted and shot by Mugabe's terror machine? And in both instances did Mugabe not pardon these criminals?" he said. "But there are a lot of compelling reasons why Tsvangirai remains the best foot forward at this stage of the democratic struggle."
He said first, Morgan Tsvangirai has demystified Mugabe and Zanu PF by proving that these institutions are not invincible after all. The historic referendum of 2000 is a clear illustration of this fact.
"Second, Morgan Tsvangirai has beaten Mugabe and Zanu PF before. His undisputed victory on 29 March 2008 is the imperical evidence to this fact. Third, it has never been the best of ideas in history to change a leader in the middle of a revolution especially where that leader has not sold out the revolution. The democratic struggle has reached its most defining moments," he said.
"Fourth, contrary to other political players Tsvangirai has always sought to renew his mandate as leader of his party through regular elective congresses. Other political parties, including those formed recently can not even hold congresses for purposes of electing their leadership."
He said fifth, Tsvangirai has demonstrated a rare type of statesmanship. He has the ability to sit down in the same cabinet with his erstwhile tormentors for the greater good of the Zimbabwean people.
"Sixth, when he joined the government of national unity as Prime Minister, the lives of the Zimbabweans changed for the better," he said. "Seventh, Tsvangirai is an achieving visionary. He went into the inclusive government to improve the economy, reduce state sponsored violence and deliver a new people driven democratic constitution. Tsvangirai and the MDC achieved just that."
Mwonzora said eighth, Tsvangirai has foregone personal comfort for principle. Mugabe has consistently through his machinery said he will not give Tsvangirai his pension unless Tsvangirai acknowledges Mugabe as the legitimately elected president of Zimbabwe.
"Though famous and enjoying mass support, Tsvangirai remains down to earth and approachable. Reluctantly the masses love and trust him. That is why he remains the face of the struggle and our best foot forward," he said.
"Some commentators and competitors have sought to place doubt on the suitability and ability of Morgan Tsvangirai to lead the Zimbabwean opposition to victory over Zanu PF," he said.
"They argue inter alia that after a number of electoral "defeats".
It is time that a new person be found to lead the party. That way, they argue, MDC can finally win against Zanu PF." Mwonzora said this argument is based on two false assumptions. The first is the assumption that indeed Morgan Tsvangirai lost the elections to Mugabe. "The second is the assumption that this lost is solely as a result of the natural fallibilities of Morgan Tsvangirai," he said.
"As stated before, these premises are false. Morgan Tsvangirai's first contest with Mugabe was in the Constitutional Referendum of 2000. Mugabe's party and government poured in huge financial and material resources into the infamous Vote Yes campaigned. However Tsvangirai and his group, with modest resources went on to annihilate Mugabe with the win of the Vote No campaign. This famous victory underlined Morgan Tsvangirai's organisational potency." He said in a display of organising proficiency, Tsvangirai nearly snatched a majority of the seats in parliament in MDC's maiden Parliamentary contest of 2000 with a handsome 57 seats.
He said in 2002, Tsvangirai directly challenged Mugabe in the presidential race. In order to secure a Mugabe victory both the security and electoral authorities committed unspeakable acts of fraud in that election. "Tsvangirai challenged that election in the High Court of Zimbabwe. So overwhelming was the evidence of voter fraud against Mugabe that no judge would rule against Tsvangirai. However, to date the judgement has not been handed down yet," he said.
"On 29 March, 2008 Tsvangirai posted that famous victory against Mugabe in the Presidential election. The military man who was heading the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had to delay the announcement of the results by weeks to allow for "make up" to be administered on the results to force a run off election. When that run off election was called, Mugabe unleashed his terror machine on Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC which ultimately forced Tsvangirai to withdraw his candidature in order to save Zimbabwean lives. We now know that the terror campaign was meant to create leverage for Zanu PF and force a power sharing agreement which brought about the government of National Unity."
Mwonzora said in 2013, Mugabe wringed an unexpected result. We now know from the confessions of some Zanu PF people that in fact Mugabe through his junta cheated his way to victory. He said when Tsvangirai sought to challenge this result in the Constitutional Court, the Chief Justice told him that he was not allowed to bring witnesses to prove his case. It cannot be treated as a historical truism therefore that Tsvangirai ever lost to Mugabe.
"The second false argument is that Tsvangirai lost because he is Tsvangirai," he said.
"First, Tsvangirai was not the only opposition Presidential candidate in these elections. Why then did those other leaders who were not him not win the elections? In 2008 we had another credible candidate called Dr. Makoni who only managed 8% of the vote. He never complained about this result. Second, the common feature in all these elections was the state sponsored violence that was directed at Tsvangirai and his party. In 2008 alone over 300 MDC supporters and activists were murdered in cold blood by the Zanu PF military establishment."
Mwonzora said third, Tsvangirai was submitted to a lengthy and debilitating treason trial. "Still after his acquittal he was in March 2007submitted to a beating almost unto death. The glee with which Mugabe relished and celebrated the beating shocked even the most sadistic of murderers," said the SG. "Fourth, while Mugabe and his party were allowed free access to the media, Tsvangirai and his party were ordered to pay for their media coverage. However when they marshalled the resources to flight some of his advertisements on the state media, same were mostly turned down. Fifth, Mugabe , feeling the heat of battle in the 2008 Presidential Run off election started using a state helicopter to transport him from rally to rally with minimum fatigue. When Tsvangirai secured a helicopter as well, it was banned from flying him in Zimbabwe."
"Seventh, contrary to their constitutional mandate, the security forces at the instigation of the generals clearly campaigned for Mugabe while violently suppressing Tsvangirai's campaign. They granted Zanu PF militia all freedom to abrogate the law while using the same law selectively to persecute Tsvangirai and his party," he said.
"Eighth, Tsvangirai's strongholds were denied full opportunity to register as voters. An official go slow was embarked upon in all these areas by the electoral authorities responsible for voter registration. This resulted in mass disenfranchisement of thousands of Zimbabweans perceived to be aligned to the MDC. In Mugabe's strongholds on the other hand voter registration was expedited."
Mwonzora said ninth, a lot of vitriol and hate language is always directed at Tsvangirai and his supporters by Mugabe and his supporters. Tsvangirai and his supporters on the other hand cannot do the same because of the law that criminalizes insulting or undermining Mugabe. He said in fact those MDC members who have dared insult Mugabe back have been prosecuted and some jailed.
"Tsvangirai detractors argue without saying it that had it been another person leading the MDC then these irregularities would not have happened. A few historical examples illustrate the ludicrousness of this argument. When it was Joshua Nkomo and his PF Zapu posing a threat to Mugabe's power did Mugabe's terror machinery not kill people in Matatbeleland and the Midlands? When Edgar Tekere and his ZUM posed a threat to Mugabe's power were his officials not abducted and shot by Mugabe's terror machine? And in both instances did Mugabe not pardon these criminals?" he said. "But there are a lot of compelling reasons why Tsvangirai remains the best foot forward at this stage of the democratic struggle."
He said first, Morgan Tsvangirai has demystified Mugabe and Zanu PF by proving that these institutions are not invincible after all. The historic referendum of 2000 is a clear illustration of this fact.
"Second, Morgan Tsvangirai has beaten Mugabe and Zanu PF before. His undisputed victory on 29 March 2008 is the imperical evidence to this fact. Third, it has never been the best of ideas in history to change a leader in the middle of a revolution especially where that leader has not sold out the revolution. The democratic struggle has reached its most defining moments," he said.
"Fourth, contrary to other political players Tsvangirai has always sought to renew his mandate as leader of his party through regular elective congresses. Other political parties, including those formed recently can not even hold congresses for purposes of electing their leadership."
He said fifth, Tsvangirai has demonstrated a rare type of statesmanship. He has the ability to sit down in the same cabinet with his erstwhile tormentors for the greater good of the Zimbabwean people.
"Sixth, when he joined the government of national unity as Prime Minister, the lives of the Zimbabweans changed for the better," he said. "Seventh, Tsvangirai is an achieving visionary. He went into the inclusive government to improve the economy, reduce state sponsored violence and deliver a new people driven democratic constitution. Tsvangirai and the MDC achieved just that."
Mwonzora said eighth, Tsvangirai has foregone personal comfort for principle. Mugabe has consistently through his machinery said he will not give Tsvangirai his pension unless Tsvangirai acknowledges Mugabe as the legitimately elected president of Zimbabwe.
"Though famous and enjoying mass support, Tsvangirai remains down to earth and approachable. Reluctantly the masses love and trust him. That is why he remains the face of the struggle and our best foot forward," he said.
Source - Byo24News
