Tsvangirai rushes to see Komichi after family said MDC-T has abandoned him

I have just been to Chikurubi Maximum Prison to visit our jailed cadres. This long incarceration is demoralising, not only to them and their families, but to the party as well. The spurious charges they are facing, and the long incarceration, have dented our justice system, said Tsvangirai.



MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai today visited the MDC-T deputy chairperson Senator Morgen Komichi who is incarcerated at the Chikurubi Maximum Security prison on charges of contravening the electoral law.

Komichi was arrested in July after he handed to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) a special vote ballot paper which had been picked from a dustbin at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) in the last election.


Addressing journalists after the visit, Tsvangirai said it was absurd that instead of prosecuting ZEC officials for negligence they were instead incarcerating Komichi for exposing the irregularity.

"It is strange that they chose to incarcerate Komichi instead of ZEC for its negligence in the election," said the Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai who took the opportunity to see the remaining four Glen View 29; Last Maengahama, Yvonne Musarurwa, Simon Mapanzure and Tungamirai Madzokere said he was encouraged to see them in good spirit.

He said the four including Komichi gave him words of encouragement to continue with the struggle for a new democratic dispensation.

"I was quite touched and encouraged to hear them say President do not give up, let us continue with the fight" said Tsvangirai.

Turning on to the SADC report issued yesterday which "endorsed" the outcome of the just ended fraudulent election, President Tsvangirai said it was expected given that they had already endorsed the result in their preliminary report.

He said by referring to the issue of sanctions and pirate radio stations, which had nothing to do with the manner in which the last elections were prepared and conducted; the SADC observer mission leader was certainly reading from a Zanu-PF script. He said he would launch a formal complaint with SADC and the AU.

Tsvangirai said he was aware of the crisis of expectation from the people Zimbabwe whose victory was stolen but cautioned that dealing with a dictator required time, patience and resilience adding that the MDC would continue with the democratic means to bring real change in Zimbabwe.

He said the biggest mistake people can make is to give up the struggle.

Tsvangirai said he would soon consult with the people of Zimbabwe on the way forward.