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It’s God’s will for change in Zimbabwe, says Tsvangirai

It’s God’s will for change in Zimbabwe, says Tsvangirai
By George Chellah, Kingsley Kaswende and Amos Malupenga in Hara
Tuesday March 25, 2008 [03:00]

OPPOSITION MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai has said President Robert Mugabe won't steal this week's election because it is God's will for change in Zimbabwe. And Tsvangirai warned that the MDC was ready for those that want to subvert the people's victory by rigging elections. Addressing a well attended rally on Sunday, Tsvangirai accused President Mugabe of stealing past elections. He warned that would not happen again.

"In 2002 he stole the vote, I won the elections. In the 2004 parliamentary, he also stole the election. He won't steal the election this time around because it's God's will for change," Tsvangirai said.

"On Saturday, we are going to make one statement to ZANU-PF. We will stand together for food, justice and jobs. We will stand together for a new Zimbabwe. We will witness the last chance of the dictatorship."
He thanked Zimbabweans for their resilience amidst brutality and trauma from the ruling ZANU-PF.

"We have arrived, the road has been long and rough. The goal is in sight and we expect that the enemies of justice will try to engage in all tricks in the book. We are ready for them. We are ready for those who would like to subvert the people's victory," Tsvangirai said.

He said the MDC was doing everything to stop ZANU-PF from rigging elections this Saturday.

"On the election day, I expect you to go there as early as you can. We will not leave those polls. When we vote, we will have to defend our vote, when we vote we celebrate our victory. The only challenge we have is to defend our victory; we have the support for change. Support is not our challenge. Do not leave those polls when you vote," Tsvangirai said. "Mugabe has lost the hearts and minds of Zimbabweans, what he has remained with is just the art of rigging. But we are doing everything to stop him. We will beat him at his own game."

Tsvangirai said this time around there was nothing like a rural or urban vote because everybody in Zimbabwe wanted change.

"I have never seen Mugabe as angry as he was yesterday Saturday at a rally. He was so upset because he knows that there is something that will happen soon. He swore yesterday that 'never, never again'. We are also swearing that never, never again," Tsvangirai said in apparent reference to President Mugabe's recent remarks that MDC will never rule in his lifetime. "He keeps on saying that 'it's my Zimbabwe, is this country Mugabe private limited company?"

Tsvangirai dismissed recent threats by Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Constantine Chiwenga that the British and US puppets would never rule Zimbabwe.

"I am going to be elected by the mandate of the people of Zimbabwe. Any amount of threats, intimidation or threatening death upon death is not going to be the issue that will arise," Tsvangirai said. "I have been assured that in spite of individual utterances by senior defence forces, the majority of army, intelligence officers and the police are with the people."

Tsvangirai said the current administration would never do anything for Zimbabweans.

"This government is not worth the paper it is written on. All Zimbabweans must know that the greatest weapon this regime has is intimidation and fear. Mugabe wants to scare you away. He wants to instill fear but we are beyond fear. Do not be afraid this regime is on the way out. They know that this is the people's election," Tsvangirai said. "It's Mugabe and ZANU-PF who are scared, what are they fearful for? They are fearful against your vote. We appreciate that there was a struggle against colonialism in this country before. We appreciate that Robert Mugabe played a role in this struggle, we appreciate that. But that struggle has been overtaken by another struggle, this struggle for democracy. No matter what Mugabe does, one day Mugabe will be history. And he knows this. That's why he is angry."

Tsvangirai said his party had a five-point plan for Zimbabwe after winning elections this Saturday. He said Zimbabweans wanted a leadership that was God-fearing and accountable to the people.

"We want to protect the integrity of our national institutions, the police, army and the Judiciary. Those are not ZANU-PF institutions," he said.

He said Zimbabwe's economy has become a national disaster.

"We will convene a conference to attract those that are willing to assist us in the re-construction programme. Within six months, we should be able to put up a new currency, which is valuable," he said.

Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe must go back to the family of nations and get its dignity.
"Not where we now have Zimbabweans who call themselves Zambians because they are embarrassed to be called Zimbabweans," said Tsvangirai.

Labels: ELECTIONS, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 7:30 AM