Maravi

(ZIMBABWE GUARDIAN) Tsvangirai under fire over anti-gay statatement

COMMENT - Sounds like someone walked into a trap. :)

Tsvangirai under fire over anti-gay statatement
By: TH-tzg
Posted: Tuesday, March 30, 2010 12:14 am

PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has come under fire from pro-gay rights groups after he made a statement denouncing homosexuality last week.

Some funders who pump in huge amounts of money into the MDC-T are said to be sympathetic to gay rights. The groups have put pressure on the party to clarify its position.

The MDC-T party tried to tone down the prime minister's statement saying what he had made was a personal stand and not the party line.

At International Women’s Day at the Chitungwiza Aquatic Complex last week, PM Tsvangirai said he totally agreed with President Mugabe against including "gay rights" in Zimbabwe’s proposed new constitution.

He said: "Women are 52 percent of the population. There are more women than men. Why should men propose to men?"

Political analysts yesterday said the attempt to downplay this was meant to "ease pressure from MDC-T’s paymasters".

Mr Godwin Mureriwa told the Herald newspaper that the MDC-T was afraid of antagonising the wealthy gay community.

"They seem to have advised PM Tsvangirai not to upset their paymasters, hence the change."

Mr Gabriel Chaibva said MDC-T had received funding from pro-gay groups.

"They have been sponsored by people like the late (Keith) Goddard and this is why people like Peter Tatchel are very vocal against President Mugabe.

"This is a desperate attempt to placate the fury of international gay movements," he said.

MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa was also reportedly evasive and jittery when confronted about the change in the party's policy on gays.

"Let the people decide. We trust in the people’s wisdom and collective decisions and the people’s collective voice is always binding," he said.

TSVANGIRAI'S WEAK LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE FOR NEGOTIATORS

Meanwhile, PM Tsvangirai's flip-flopping and weak leadership is reported to present challenges for his party's negotiators in the power-sharing talks currently taking place.

MDC-T negotiators Mr Tendai Biti and Mr Elton Mangoma are finding it difficult to tackle the issue of sanctions because party Tsvangirai had flip-flopped on his position.

A commentator said: "After saying sanctions must go, he then got pressure from some elements and subsequently told diplomats that he would not do anything to lobby for the lifting of sanctions.

"This is despite having undertaken to do so in the GPA. This has been causing problems for his negotiators as they try and tally the ever shifting positions."

The meeting with diplomats referred to, took place at Harvest House on March 10, a few days after Mr Tsvangirai publicly denounced sanctions for the first and only time to date.

He told the diplomats: "I would also like to take this opportunity to clarify that my position and that of the MDC on the issue of restrictive measures has not changed.

"We understand that Zanu-PF were the authors of these restrictions and we expect the international community to review them in line with democratic progress and reforms within Zimbabwe."

Insiders yesterday said President Zuma’s recent explicit denunciation of MDC-T’s attitude towards the sanctions had made the negotiators’ jobs more difficult.

After meeting Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni, President Zuma said: "One part of the Government, which is the MDC, is functioning at full strength because they can travel abroad and mobilise while the other side cannot operate effectively . . .

"If sanctions are lifted, we can make faster progress."

The sources said the statement had been met with "panic" in MDC-T ranks because they took it to mean President Zuma was inclined towards Zanu-PF’s position on the matter.

Labels: HOMOSEXUALITY, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

posted by MrK @ 11:26 PM