(HERALD) Chinamasa says no talks on unity Govt

Chinamasa says no talks on unity Govt
Herald Reporters

ZANU-PF will only consider the issue of a Government of national unity after the impending presidential run-off and is eagerly awaiting for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to announce the date. Addressing journalists in Harare on Sunday, the party media sub-committee chairperson Cde Patrick Chinamasa said the calls for a government of national unity were premature as the process can only be discussed after the conclusion of the presidential elections.

"We in Zanu-PF are eagerly waiting for the date so that we can put the election behind us and forge ahead with our programmes.

"From Zanu-PF’s point of view, the process is not yet complete. The process has to be completed to determine the dominant player.

"When we win we are very much alive about the imperative to put behind the current polarisation.

"There is need for forging ahead as a united people. We want our people to be united to achieve our vision."

Cde Chinamasa was however, quick to point out that Zimbabweans must know that Zanu-PF and MDC come from very different backgrounds.

"We are a revolutionary party that is for the total empowerment of indigenous people and distribution of resources to the black majority when MDC is for the promotion of the interests of white dominance,’’ he said.

Cde Chinamasa said foreigners could only come in as investment partners.

Cde Chinamasa noted that Mr Tsvangirai was sending contradicting signals on the GNU issue by claiming to have won the March presidential election with varying margins.

"He said I have won by 58 percent, 57 percent and now 50,3 percent. It was contradictory," he said.

Cde Chinamasa queried why Mr Tsvangirai would agitate for the GNU if he won convincingly.

"If he had won so handsomely why would he want to share power? Why would he be the chief protagonist of the GNU?"

Reports in the private media claim behind-the-scenes efforts by Sadc for the GNU.

Losing independent presidential aspirant Simba Makoni has been agitating for a GNU as the way forward to the country’s current challenges worsened by the illegal sanctions imposed by the west at the instigation of Britain and America.

Meanwhile, Cde Chinamasa said he is not aware of any crimes Mr Tsvangirai and some MDC-T officials committed in the country that has forced him to live in exile.

"They left freely through our borders using Zimbabwean passports. I am completely ignorant of the crimes they have committed. They will come back with their tails between their legs." He condemned the West for allegedly funding the MDC-T during the March harmonised elections saying Government will not accept external financial support.

Cde Chinamasa said the country would not seek funds from other countries to run the impending elections (run-off)

"Running of the elections is a sovereignty responsibility and we are not going to ask for funding from other countries," he said Cde Chinamasa.

He said the Government did not need external assistance because it has the capacity to raise the funds for the run-off, which is a national issue.

Cde Chinamasa said the electoral law provided for ZEC to extend the period to hold elections taking into account the need to mobilise resources and Zanu-PF was anxious to have the run-off take place.

On Members of Parliament, Cde Chinamasa said the swearing in would be done after the presidential election.