Morgan Tsvangirai chats with Emmerson Mnangagwa (file pic)
…we cannot entrust top post to anyone else
…2018 elections do or die
Upenyu Chaota
16 Feb 2017 – MASVINGO – Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he will lead the united front against President Robert Mugabe in the 2018 elections while other opposition parties will be given positions as per the input they bring to the table.
Tsvangirai was speaking at his party’s provincial offices to wrap up his three days of consultative meetings with key stakeholders and the grassroots in the province.
The veteran opposition leader assured his supporters that his 17-year old fight against Zanu PF will culminate in him leading the opposition coalition once it is formed.
In Bikita and Zaka, Tsvangirai said, the issue of partnering Joice Mujuru in the coalition was met with mixed feelings as a great deal of supporters expressed reservations on accommodating somebody who was part and parcel of the system during the violence of 2008.
Tsvangirai said his party will work with all progressive opposition parties that share the vision of seeing a better Zimbabwe for everyone.
He however seemed to confirm widely-held observations that if he fails to win next year’s election, that would be the end of his political career.
“We are working on a coalition with all other opposition parties so that we can confront Mugabe and his Zanu PF in a do or die 2018 election.
“The people have suffered enough and we have been fighting the system for a long time. In 2008, we came very close but in 2018, victory is certain. We do not want to leave anything to chance hence the need for a collective effort by all opposition parties,” said Tsvangirai.
He said Zimbabweans were left with only ‘one bullet’ which they cannot afford to squander in their long battle to free themselves from the Zanu PF albatross.
He warned smaller and upstart opposition parties to respect those who have been fighting the system for longer, saying there will be an evaluation of every one so as to determine the political worth of each.
“Mugabe knows he does not stand a chance with Tsvangirai in a free and fair election. We cannot trust the top post to anyone else. Others have to wait in line,” said Tsvangira to a round of applause.
He said they have won many parliamentary seats and control all urban councils but have not yet won the grand prize onto which Mugabe is clinging, tooth and nail.
“We want the highest office because that is where decisions that affect our people are made. We will be able to better the people’s lives if we win the presidency,” he said.
Tsvangirai equated the frenzied interest in who would lead the coalition to a story of a man who was walking and saw some people gathered.
The man inquired what was going on and was told there was an election to elect a chairperson so the man said he too wanted to be the chairperson.
“When you arrive at a place, you wait to get acquainted not to jump the line and want to run the affairs. You have to let those you found in the area run the affairs while you learn,” said Tsvangirai.politics
