Zimbabwe's top two politicians are looking ahead to the elections that will end their uneasy governing partnership. At a rally Sunday in Harare, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said he would run in presidential elections expected next year. He also called for African peacekeepers to protect voters in a country where politics has long been dogged by violence and fraud blamed on President Robert Mugabe's supporters. Mugabe hinted last week that he would run for re-election. The 86-year-old has led Zimbabwe since 1980. Mugabe was forced into a power-sharing agreement with longtime opponent Tsvangirai a year ago. The unity government is supposed to prepare for elections in 2011, but it has been beset by disputes among the partners. No election date has been set.

"I am ready to stand for elections," Tsvangirai told about 20,000 members of his Movement for Democratic Change party Sunday. "We want a peacekeeping force to protect people during the election period," Tsvangirai added, saying he would ask the African Union and a regional group known as SADC to send the peacekeepers. He also said he wanted foreign observers' to help guarantee a free and fair vote.

 

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Sunday Zimbabwe should invite international observers and a peacekeeping force to ensure that its next national election is free and fair. Tsvangirai formed a coalition government with President Robert Mugabe a year ago to end a political and economic crisis, but analysts say mutual suspicion and strategic positioning are delaying democratic reforms meant to clear the way for a poll next year. Addressing a party rally just outside Harare, Tsvangirai told supporters of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) that Zimbabwe could guarantee that violence which has marred previous parliamentary and presidential elections is avoided by accepting observers and a peacekeeping force. "Lets bring in foreign observers for the next elections... We can use the African Union and SADC (Southern African Development Community) forces for peacekeeping during the election period," he said. There was no peacekeeping force in 2008. Mugabe allowed poll observers from SADC and the AU but refused those from Western countries, saying they were biased against his ZANU-PF party.

 

You may have seen the pictures or read the stories. Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe turned 86 late last month and his supporters helped him celebrate with a party costing $300,000. Mugabe is right to celebrate. Life expectancy in the country he has systematically brought to his knees stands at 44. Men, women and children are dying daily of Aids. Hospitals have no medicine. Prisoners have no food. Reaching 86 is a privilege reserved only for those who can loot the state. As Delma Lupepe, a leading member of Mugabe's Zanu-PF, said without irony: "We have to celebrate our leader, who is now 86. How many people reach that age?" In Zimbabwe, if you are an ordinary man or woman, the answer is simple: you will not reach that age. The party took place while Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change and now prime minister in the increasingly laughable coalition government with Mugabe, has been begging for $6-billion in foreign aid and investment to rebuild schools, hospitals and sewers after a decade of economic collapse.

 

THE HERALD: Tsvangirai slams corruption
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai has publicly admitted that his party is riddled with corruption that is threatening its integrity and vowed to fire all members found guilty. Addressing party supporters in Chitungwiza yesterday, Mr Tsvangirai said corruption had become a deep-rooted cancer in the party structures. "What is happening now is a manifestation of a party yapindwa napongwe. This is a reflection of a party eroding as a result of corruption. This is a serious matter and recently we fired the Chitungwiza executive because of corruption. "We again fired the Chitungwiza council that was also mired in corruption. As president of the party, I have an obligation to protect the integrity of the party and in pursuit of this obligation, I prefer to become the most unpopular leader for a very popular reason," he said. He maintained that the Chitungwiza councillors that were dismissed by the party for corruption did not have legitimacy to continue serving in the local authority.

Indigenisation Minister Saviour Kasukuwere has said the controversial empowerment law that came into effect last week was also meant to counter sanctions Western nations imposed on President Robert Mugabe and his ZANU PF party top brass over alleged human rights abuses. "Sanctions worked because the economy was being controlled from outside the country,” Kasukuwere told journalists at the weekend. “Who can assure me that the economy will not be in trouble if the programme does not take off.” Kasukuwere said some foreign-owned banks were not keen to fund locals. “These British banks, should change their attitudes; either they support our people or there is no need for them to be in First Street." The Indigenisation Minister who is from ZANU PF said there was no going back on the law although he was prepared to listen to industrialists’ concerns."There is no going back. Forget it. We are going forward. We are prepared to engage and discuss with these companies, but it's time to do things. We shouldn't be scared to take painful decisions," said Kasukuwere.