Tsvangirai seeks help in getting election results
Zimbabwe’s opposition leader today began campaigning for neighbouring leaders to pressure Robert Mugabe to release election results and end the political crisis paralysing the country.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change claims its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential vote outright and has asked the High Court to force publication of the results.
Hearings were continuing today, 11 days after the election.
The opposition claims Mugabe is delaying the release of the results so he can manipulate and threaten voters to ensure he does not lose a second run-off ballot.
Mr Tsvangirai made a possible overture toward Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, saying he wanted a government that would “create space for everyone.” Even so, Mugabe must step down after 28 years in power, he said.
“I think it’s time for him to take his retirement,” Mr Tsvangirai said from Botswana, where he was holding meetings today.
Earlier this week, Mr Tsvangirai met Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa’s governing African National Congress party. He planned to visit other nearby countries in the coming days.
“I will be going around the countries in the region to make that point that (southern Africa) does not need that political chaos and dislocation on their doorstep,” Mr Tsvangirai said.
Pressure continued to build on the government to release the election results, with Australia adding to calls from the United Nations, Britain, the European Union and the US to release the results.
“There is simply no excuse for them being withheld more than a week after the poll,” Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.
“There are mixed signals from the Zimbabwe government on the next steps but all appear to add up to a lack of respect for the will of the people,” he said.
Mr Zuma repeated earlier entreaties that “results be announced as a matter of urgency,” his spokeswoman said today.
Mugabe’s party has called for a recount and a further delay in the release of results.
Meanwhile, the state-controlled Herald newspaper claimed Mr Tsvangirai was “begging” for the post of vice president in a unity government – stepping up a push to depict the opposition as ready to concede.
The opposition has repeatedly dismissed claims it is seeking a unity government as lies spread by a government propaganda campaign.
Tendai Biti, secretary general of the MDC, said there had been “massive violence” since the elections in traditional ruling party strongholds that voted for the opposition. Ruling party militants, used previously to intimidate government opponents, were being rearmed, were waging an orchestrated campaign of violence and were driving dozens of white farmers off their land.
Reports that people are being beaten up and their homes torched have circulated in the capital Harare.
Zimbabwe’s commercial farmers union has said ruling party supporters have forced dozens of white farmers off their land. Such seizures started in 2000 as Mugabe’s response to his first defeat at the polls – a loss in a referendum designed to entrench his presidential powers.
