THE opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader Morgan Tsvangirai will not return to Zimbabwe Monday to begin campaigning in a run-off presidential election as expected, a spokesman from his camp has indicated.
Tsvangirai's new spokesman George Sibotshiwe said the MDC-T leader, who announced Saturday he would contest a presidential run-off against President Robert Mugabe, would not return to Zimbabwe today but in due course.
Zimbabwe's Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the opposition leader is free to return to the country.
Tsvangirai at a press conference in Pretoria on Saturday said he would return to Zimbabwe within two days to begin campaigning for a second round of voting in the presidential election, which the MDC is demanding be held by May 23, among other conditions. The MDC had initially said they would never contest a run-off claiming that their leader garnered the required 50 per cent plus one vote on March 29 to claim outright victory.
Official results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission however gave him 47.9 per cent against 43.2 per cent for President Mugabe—below the threshold needed for a direct victory.
Ahead of his return Tsvangirai met over the weekend with Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos, a close ally of Mugabe, from whom he sought assurances on his safety in Zimbabwe.
Dos Santos heads the political, defence and security committee of the 14-country Southern African Development Community, which is mediating in the Zimbabwean impasse.
Asked whether the MDC leader had obtained the necessary security guarantees, Sibotshiwe told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa: “They (SADC) are working on it.”
Tsvangirai has been based in South Africa and Botswana for the past month, amid concerns for his safety in Zimbabwe, where the MDC claims over 30 of its members have been killed and hundreds of supporters injured in post-election violence.
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Diddley Squat, Tasmania • na Subject: THE GAMES PEOPLE PLAY? Mon, 12 May 2008 19:45:37 • This man is more in touch with his feminine side than any other man I know.
Doesnt he know its only a woman's perogative to change her mind all the time?
Men are supposed to be decision-makers and leaders. Who is pulling his strings? Put David Coltart in charge - even if he is white!
Mo • moesechirwa1@yahoo.co.uk Subject: MT should not open his mouth before he thinks Mon, 12 May 2008 16:11:42 • Its surprising to hear how MT is always changing from not running to running-off.Who is advising him.Now we hear he has a new spokesman,probably now a South African.I think he is causing more problems with his careless talk.Think before you talk in Politics.
Simbarashe Vheremu • simbarashevheremu@yahoo.com Subject: n/a Mon, 12 May 2008 15:23:55 • Tsvangirai should stop acting like a loser, but should now start acting like a leader of a 'majority' party. By staying away from Zimbabwe he has proved to be a political coward who can not stand the heat of Zimbabwean politics. Tsvangirai should go and sympathise with his supporters who have lost their homes, property and wealth in the current crackdown by Zanu PF. Tsvangirai should be identified with the suffering masses and not the wealthy and power hungry elite. By abandoning his followers, he is betraying the democratic movement that has always been known to be courageous and brave. GO HOME TSVANGIRAI.
n/a • n/a Subject: n/a Mon, 12 May 2008 13:25:29 • He knows he has a case to answer.He knows he called for a stay away that flopped.He knows he declared himself president in defiance of the law.He knows he put his eggs in one basket,believing that the rhetoric by those that have made him a cog in their machinery would dethrone a freedom fighter.Now he is as scared as a spring hare.He and Biti can shout from the comfort of a foreign country.They are advised to spent some time with Mutumwa, Bennett,Molokele and THAT HUMAN RIGHTS DRUNKARD who thought trying to attack Mugabe at his graduation would bring publicity and fame.The thugs in MDC have no shame.Many lied in foreign lands.They even stage vigils that are but a farce,declaring unashamedly that they fear the CIO.A country should not give in to the wild dogs of the MDC where-ever they breed.
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