Posted on 01/04/2006 6:55:57 PM PST by mdittmar
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he will personally lead mass protests aimed at expressing anger and disgust at President Robert Mugabe's marauding tyranny. The MDC leader said he was ready to confront the "Mugabe dictatorship" head on adding that no form of official intimidation would make the party deviate from its plans. Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi last week warned the opposition party against rolling out the mass protests saying anyone who would "like to cause unrest and civil commotion in this country under the guise of freedom of expression and democracy will be dealt with severely".
But Tsvangirai said he was under no illusion of the task at hand given the repressive and brutal nature of Mugabe's armed forces, who were this week given a 231% salary increase to motivate them ahead of the planned protests. "I know that leading a desperate and despondent people who have been repeatedly blocked from exercising their democratic right to elect a government of their choice is an emotionally demanding undertaking," Tsvangirai said in an exclusive interview yesterday. "But I am ready."
The MDC leader said he believed his party would come to power through a free and fair election but said the immediate task was to dislodge Zanu PF from power. "For the past five years we have attempted to dislodge Zanu PF through elections, litigation, dialogue, mass action and international diplomacy but the regime has not cooperated," Tsvangirai said. "Right now we feel democratic mass resistance is the way to go and I am ready to lead the protest." The MDC leader called on the United Nations to speak clearly to condemn any failure by the Mugabe regime to accord its people internationally accepted democratic governance to avert imminent collapse. Tsvangirai said the continued subversion of democracy in Zimbabwe would adversely affect other countries in the sub region adding that instability would have extremely negative consequences for investment in the region as a whole.
The MDC leader lamented the worsening poverty in the country saying the only way to restore the country to the family of normal nations was through direct confrontation with the regime. Tsvangirai said the majority of Zimbabweans were desperate, without homes, food or incomes adding that government's brutal Operation Restore Order precipitated the humanitarian catastrophe currently unfolding in the country. "Zimbabwe is now a failed State and the UN and the entire international community must realise that the nation faces an emergency created by Mugabe and his Zanu PF," Tsvangirai said.
He said the current infighting in his party was part of a Central Intelligence Organisation project hatched by Mugabe to destabilise his party. "But they have failed," Tsvangirai said "We remain vigilante. They are wasting their time." The MDC leader said mass protests were the only avenue that remained open given the dire consequences of Mugabe's failed policies and the humanitarian emergency that faced the country.
Don't know anything about Tsvangirai, but if he's going up against Mugabe, I wish him luck. Brave man.
"Don't know anything about Tsvangirai, but if he's going up against Mugabe, I wish him luck. Brave man."
I agree, but I doubt he'll live to see the end of 2006.
The Oil for Food scandal at the U.N. is nothing (and certainly not over), but the real investigation should be into the ideology of the U.N. The original purpose is gone and the United Nations has become little more than a symbol of Marxism on American soil.
Mugabe was taught by masters....the North Koreans.This opposition leader had best be prepared to meet his Maker at any moment.
Hey, that's more than a week's worth of inflation!
I with Mr. Tsvangirai the best, but the law in his country is in the keeping of the men with bloody hands, and there's an awful lot of room there for yet another unmarked grave.
Thanks for the background info.
I hope he has his life Insurance paid up and his funeral prepaid.
There is an old saying , they can kill me, but they cant eat me. I wouldnt bet on that in Zimbabwe, or for that matter in the UN building with whats running the UN.
Would the Z man just DIE. He is like 90 years old. Why is it the scum always seem to hang on for ever!
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