The people of Zimbabwe urgently need the help of the whole world to stop the impending famine and plague. The people of Zimbabwe need their political parties to commit themselves to ending the needless suffering they endure every day.
The humanitarian crisis that is now engulfing all Zimbabweans represents the greatest threat ever to face our country. While millions face starvation in the coming months, the death toll from cholera is now sitting at over fifty people per day and will increase dramatically now that the rainy season has
begun in earnest.
In this regard, I would like to take this opportunity to thank former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, former United States President, Jimmy Carter, and Dr Graca Machel for their commitment to understanding the Zimbabwean crisis and for trying to identify solutions to halt the humanitarian catastrophe that faces the country.
It was no surprise to anyone that Mr Robert Mugabe denied them access to the country, to see firsthand the appalling conditions that Zimbabweans are living under as a result of his political and economic mismanagement. Mr Mugabe would prefer that the suffering that he and Zanu PF have caused, and continue to cause, remains in the dark.
When we signed the political agreement on September 15th, 2008, we believed that Zanu PF was willing to work with us to address the challenges facing the country. Sadly, their intransigence to date is making that appear increasingly unlikely.
Therefore, the MDC must instead work with those Zimbabwean organizations, groups and individuals to address the humanitarian crisis. In this quest, we look also towards any country, regional or international, multi-lateral bodies and NGOs to join with the MDC and the people of Zimbabwe in helping
us solve the problems of our country.
Therefore, in the absence of any progress in the talks, the MDC is now committing itself to addressing the humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe. The people of the country have mandated us to end their suffering, to work towards a New Zimbabwe and a New Beginning. In the absence of a legitimate
government in Zimbabwe, in the absence of a government of Zimbabwe that puts the will and welfare of the people first, the MDC must take on this leadership responsibility.
The people of Zimbabwe are determined to endure the suffering so long as there is no meaningful change in the way that they are governed. That is the message that they have given to the MDC and it is the message that the MDC gives to the rest of the world.
This does not mean that we are not turning our back on the Global Political Agreement, nor are we withdrawing from the talks. Rather, we are saying that until we see real indications that the negotiations will end the suffering of all Zimbabweans we cannot allow ourselves to be distracted from working towards the goal of alleviating the peoples’ suffering.
The tragedy that is Zimbabwe is not caused by the current political impasse. Rather, this political impasse and the current suffering are caused by a former ruling party refusing to acknowledge both the will of the people and the hardships they are causing the people.
To suggest the current problems facing our country can be solved by the MDC becoming a powerless partner in a Zanu PF government, fails to acknowledge the truth about the causes of the crisis and the fact that such a development would result in the perpetuation of the peoples’ suffering.
The Mugabe team negotiates as though their priority is to cover up the problem rather than solve it. Establishing a unity government dedicated to covering up the problem would be easy; establishing a unity government that can help to solve the problem is very hard.
The most recent sign of the lack of good faith by Zanu PF is the reappointment of the Governor of the Reserve Bank, Gideon Gono. This individual, who has been the architect of Zimbabwe’s economic collapse and has blatantly plundered the national treasury to fund Zanu PF and its elite, has been rewarded with another five year term. Surely, if Mr Mugabe was genuine in his desire to address the problems facing the country he would not breach the global political agreement by making any senior appointments unilaterally.
Furthermore the continued abduction of MDC members that we have witnessed in the past few weeks including confirmed disappearance of 15 of our members reflects the ongoing disregard for the spirit of cooperation and coexistence and demonstrates the lack of good faith on the part of Mugabe.
Sadly, the negotiations have also been hampered by the attitude and position of the facilitator, Mr Thabo Mbeki. He does not appear to understand how desperate the problem in Zimbabwe is, and the solutions he proposes are too small. He is not serving to bring the parties together because he does not understand what needs to be done. In addition, his partisan support of Zanu PF, to the detriment of genuine dialogue, has made it impossible for the MDC to continue negotiating under his facilitation.
In this regard, we have written to the Chairman of SADC, South African President Kgalema Motlanthe, detailing the irretrievable state of our relationship with Mr Mbeki and asking that he recuse himself.
In the meantime, the MDC is continuing in discussions with no prejudice on the outstanding issues with the other political parties.
I would like to reiterate that the MDC is ready, willing and able our leadership to bring about the change that Zimbabwe needs from an inclusive government. We have a viable and bankable economic stabilization program and other key policies, that we want to discuss with Zanu PF so that we can
implement them together to respond urgently to the suffering of our people.
That is the mandate we have from the people.
Morgan Tsvangirai is the President of the Movement for Democratic Change(MDC)
Zimbabweans voted for change on 29 March 2008. And therefore giving MDC a democratic right and mandate to govern Zimbabwe. In particular, common sense shows that a government, who as a trustee of the natural rights of the individuals, should it fails to comply with its contractual obligations of protecting those rights, would automatically forfeit its officeand leave the individuals free to conclude a subsequent social compact with a new sovereign. This has been not the case in Zimbabwe, where people voted for change but are denied their quest for natural justice. Thabo Mbeki is a Mugabe puppet and there is nothing further than helping to keep Mugabe, a defacto national chairman for Zanu FP. Mbeki is a failure, partly because he is an umpire and a player of th game. Therefore, when opting for a settlemment negotiation, one that is liberal and just, there is a need to find a some one who is impartial. I partially support the MDC view to focus on humanitarian issues and sarve the masses of Zimbabwe. However, while talking of a settlement negotiation, the prospects to which appear like a man’s hand on the horizon, i recommend civil disobediance and/or use for maximum force. Mugabe and Zanu never at one point onw Zimbabwe as an assest neither any Zimbabwe. Moreover, when Mugabe talks of sovereignity, he forego to knw than there are exceptions to this principle. In fact, there is no total sovereignty.
Zimbabweans voted for change on 29 March 2008. And therefore giving MDC a democratic right and mandate to govern Zimbabwe. In particular, common sense shows that a government, who as a trustee of the natural rights of the individuals, should it fails to comply with its contractual obligations of protecting those rights, would automatically forfeit its office and leave the individuals free to conclude a subsequent social compact with a new sovereign. People voted MDC to be the new social compact. However, due to the facilitation of Mbeki, this has never been good for Mugabe, Mbeki and other Zanoids. In fact, free Zimbabwe has not been the case in reality. People voted for change but are denied their quest for freedom and natural justice. Thabo Mbeki is a Mugabe puppet and there is nothing further than helping to keep Mugabe, a defacto national chairman for Zanu FP in office. Mbeki is a failure, partly because he is an umpire and a player of the game. Therefore, when opting for a reasonable settlemment negotiation, one that is liberal and just, there is a need to find a facilitator who is impartial. Facilitation under Mbeki will no doubt not produce anything. His facilitation is fraudulent in that he favours one party. He has deliberately decended in to the arena and has been clouded with the dust of the conflict. Hence his vision of reall issues has been impaired. I partially support the MDC view to focus on humanitarian issues and sarve the masses of Zimbabwe. However, while talking of a settlement negotiation, the prospects to which appear like a man’s hand on the horizon, i recommend civil disobediance and/or use for maximum force. Mugabe and Zanu never at one point onw Zimbabwe as an assest neither any Zimbabwe. Moreover, when Mugabe talks of sovereignity, he forego to knw than there are exceptions to this principle. In fact, there is no total sovereignty.
It seems like we have to take all the anti Tsvangirayi idiots for cleansing/exorcism. They have been indoctrinated by Mugabe’s policies, rhetoric, stupidity and cannot see further than their arms length. Tabo Mbeki is yet another imbecile. How dare he accuses Morgan Tsvangirayi of being a Western puppet yet Morgan is only following the wishes of the Zimbabwean people. Where does Robert Mugabe derive his mandate? From none in charge of their mental faculties. Tsvangirayi gets his from the Zimbabweans who voted in March 2008. If Zimbabweans, as nationals, are western puppets, it is not up to anyone to change the ideology they so wish to follow.
Regai vanodiwa vatonge mhani.
Its ironic that Morgan is accused of being a ‘western puppet’ when its Mugabe and his thugs who wear Saville Row suits and Gucci shoes, drive luxury German vehicles, shop at Harrods and Saks 5th Avenue, send their kids to schools in Europe and the US, and keep fat Swiss bank accounts.
Will the REAL western puppets please stand up?
Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.
Its good that most of the MDC leaders are taking part in this business of informing the people who are the electorate about the situation on the ground. Mutambara does the same thing and he writes with all the political lyrics to draw the public closer to his articles by so doing he gains more popularity. I have been following this trend with great scrutiny and have realised many redundancies in all that both of you say. Everyone seems to be writing so as to appear to be more repsonsible and responsive about the people’s appaling situation yet you are partly the authors of this crisis just like Mugabe is wholly and directly liable for most of the atrociaties committed on innocent people. Mr MDC-T leader you seem to be reiterating the same things that have already been said and yet you say nothing about what will really exricate us from the current crisis, ofcourse you admit that things have become worse that ever but you are not specific in your actions at all. As an MDC activist who has always supported and canvassed for votes for you because my objactive is to see democracy being restored in my beloved nation, l feel l have been let down by all these articles that you have been posting. I dont say that its bad but what lm demanding of you Sir is the truth and consistency and congruence between your words and actions. When will your party stop playing according to Mugabe’s plan, when are you going to stop meeting Mugabe’s demands yet yours which is ours are not met at all. I would like to comment on what you said is the mandate that we gave you as the electorate. The way l see it maybe is different from what others may view it, the mandate that we gave you is to form a government of MDC and not a GNU, we didnt mandate you to negotiate with Muagbe and his cabal of gangsters and thieves because the only way to do that was through the polls. Mr President Sir l feel very much upset just like when Tiger Woods looses a game of which l guess you like golf, lm very much let down because my people have been let down by the socalled Global peace agreement which you used to court if not to be courted into Zanu’s home ground. I love my people, l love my country which is why l need to see democracy being restored asap but it seems like we are going to have another 28 years of negotiations untill we have a new party that will try to replace this scenario but soon engulfed by the same fears that you have succumbed to. We are really suffering which cannot even be printed on paper, we are still being tortured, our kids have been deprived of their future because education has been wiped out, we have no food, no water, nothing Mr President Sir.
Our mandate is that you come clean whether you are with us or not and not like Agent Self who uses people for self aggrandisement, we need you to stand with us now and we face death or life in order to drive this former ruling party out of the government offices. If you are not with us we can do it alone as true children of Zimbabwe we will overcome them.
dont be silly Anti gnu or whatever you call yourself. why cant MUgabe retire like anybody else. mandela retired after 4 year in power.
Mugabe will only retire if we mobilise all our efforts into forcing him to retire, he cant retire like Mandela come on guys the guy has made no statesmanship nor legacy at all so whats the reason for an early retirement. We cant make Mugabe retire by going to outside countries and asking for their diplomatic support, the pressure has to come from inside, people have to help themselves before other countries chip in. We are at fault for our country’s situation, lets stand for what we believe and the principles thatwe would like our nation to be known of, lets fight dictatorship from inside Mr Morgan and we present to the world the Zimbabwean way of doing things
MUGABE MUST GO TO HIS FARM AND LEAVE THE STATE HOUSE TO MORGAN WHO HAS GOT THE GRASSROOT SUPPORT OF THE ZIMBABWEAN PEOPLE.
Why dont you go on with whats there for now?
Surely any progress is good progress.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD PEOPLE SAY “IT IS A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH”?
WELL IT IS PRECISLEY THAT NOW.
YOU HAVE MADE THE GUY CONCEDE. GET IN THERE AND START WORKING. AND SLOWLY YOU HAVE ALL THE POWER YOU NEED SINCE YOU SEEM TO PREFERE THAT OVER SAVING PEOPLE’S LIVES.
IT IS TIME TO STOP BEING IDEALISTIC AND BE PRAGMATIC. TAKE WHATEVER DEAL THE OLDMAN GIVES. GET IN THERE AND START WORK.
COME ON, PEOPLE ARE DYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DONT YOU CARE??????????????????????????????????????????????
SHAME ON THE TWO OF YOU.#
DEADLOCK MY FOOT.
IF IT IS US YOU CARE ABOUT, WELL ISNT IT BETTER TO SAVE OUR LIVES FIRST THEN SEE TO PRESERVIING OUR FUTURE AFTERWARDS.
ITS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE.
IF YOU LOVE US, SAVE US.
DO YOU REMEMBER THE STORY OF SOLOMON IN THE BIBLE?
THE TWO LADIES WERE FIGHTING OVER A CHILD. THEY WENT TO SOLOMON AND HE SAID LETS CUT THE CHILD IN HALF. ONE OF THE WOMEN CRIED NO PLEASE DONT CUT THE CHILD. AND THE OTHER REMAINED SILENT. BY THAT TOKEN SOLOMON RULED THAT THE ONE WHO CRIED WAS THE REAL MOTHER.
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN:
MUGABE AND TSVANGIRAI HAVE BOTH LOST THE SOLOMON TEST. THEY BOTH WANT POWER, THEY DONT CARE ABOUT ZIMBABWE.
THEY DONT CARE THAT PEOPLE ARE DYING
THEY DONT CARE THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING ABUSED IN EXILE,
THAT FAMILIES ARE BROKEN, THAT EVERYTHING IS FALLING APART,
AS LONG AS THEY BOTH GET “THE RIGHT DEAL”
SHAME YOU. BOTH OF YOU.