Maravi

Zimbabwe is consumed by man made crisis - Tsvangirai

COMMENT - Tsvangirai exploits the cholera issue for political gain, forgets to mention sanctions. What else is new.

Zimbabwe is consumed by man made crisis - Tsvangirai
Written by George Chellah in Harare, Zimbabwe
Wednesday, December 03, 2008 9:06:17 AM

ZIMBABWE is consumed by a man-made humanitarian crisis, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has stated. And Tsvangirai stated that the MDC's vision is to set a precedent of fighting dictatorships through democratic means on the African continent.

In a statement, Tsvangirai, who received a pro-democracy award at a Moroccan political-economic forum in the Mediterranean, bemoaned the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe.

"Our country is consumed by a man-made humanitarian crisis with a recent outbreak of cholera so far having claimed more than five hundred lives. The food situation is our country is deplorable; more than 5.5 million people in our country will need food aid, which is more than half the people still residing in the country," Tsvangirai stated. "The international community has tried to help through the World Food Programme but have not been able to access all the people - particularly those that are in the rural areas - due to political interference by Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF."


He appealed to the rest of the world to move with speed to assist Zimbabwe address the humanitarian situation in the country as it has reached catastrophic levels.
"Following our victory at the polls on the 29th of March 2008, and the aborted runoff of June 27th 2008, the African Union at a summit in Sharm el Sheik, Egypt, made a resolution calling for Robert Mugabe and me to form a unity government.



We have been engaged in these negotiations since then and signed a global political agreement on the 15th of September 2008," Tsvangirai stated. "However, owing to the lack of sincerity on the part of ZANU-PF we are still in negotiations to conclude four key issues, Amendment Number 19 to our constitution which is designed to bring the global agreement into legal effect, the issue of provincial governors, senior appointments in government and Portfolio allocation."


Tsvangirai stated that the MDC would do everything in its power to ensure that the agreement is implemented consistent with the wishes of the people as expressed on March 29th 2008.


"We have been on this path of peaceful democratic resistance for the past ten years; a path we do not intend to abandon. Our vision as a party is to set a precedent on our continent: a precedent of fighting dictatorships through democratic means. This I believe will make Africa a better place and indeed set it on a path of development," he stated.


Last Wednesday, Tsvangirai was given a pro-democracy award at Moroccan political-economic forum in the Mediterranean, known as MEDays.


According to the organizers of the forum the 2008 MEDays prize for political dialogue was awarded to Tsvangirai for his efforts to promote democracy in Zimbabwe.
And the MDC leadership yesterday visited cholera victims in Budiriro and Mbare high-density surburbs.


MDC Vice-President Hon. Thokozani Khupe, called for the immediate intervention of the international community to assist Zimbabwe as the cholera outbreak in the country has reached unprecedented levels.


Khupe was speaking at the Beatrice Infectious Diseases Hospital in Harare after she had seen disturbing scenes of patients who have been affected by the outbreak at the hospital and at Budiriro Polyclinic.


"My appeal to the international community as a matter of urgency is for food and medicine as the country is failing to cope with the humanitarian crisis that has hit Zimbabwe," she said.


She said the ZANU-PF regime should stop politicking about the crisis as the people of Zimbabwe had been seriously affected by the cholera outbreak
"People should stop politicking about this situation as it has reached unprecedented levels. ZANU-PF should get out of its denial mode and admit that they have no capacity so that those that can help can come in as a matter of urgency," she said.


Khupe said the outbreak was now a regional crisis problem as some Zimbabweans were traveling to South Africa, Botswana and other neighbouring countries to seek medication as the facilities in Zimbabwe could not cope with the situation.


Khupe was accompanied by the Hon. Nelson Chamisa, the MDC national spokesperson, Deputy national treasurer Hon Elton Mangoma, Senator Henry Madzorera, MDC secretary for health and several MDC members of parliament and Senators. Ends....

Labels: COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, NEOCOLONIALISM

posted by MrK @ 8:58 AM