Tsvangirai Says Zimbabwe Military in Charge of Elections

GWERU —  Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation, which has for weeks been accusing President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party of padding out Zimbabwe’s voters roll with dead voters to create room for rigging, says the military is now in charge of the process to make sure the president retains power.

But Mr. Tsvangirai told supporters in Lower Gweru Thursday afternoon that he will romp to victory in the July 31 presidential race.

Speaking to thousands of supporters at Maboleni Township, Mr. Tsvangirai said he is confident of winning the election at the end of this month.

The MDC-T leader said although he has been robbed of his victory in past elections through rigging, it will be impossible for Zanu PF to fix the impending election as the MDC-T has people in various state institutions advising them “such treachery”.

He said one of the informants was popular Facebook character, Baba Jukwa, with more than 256,000 followers.

The prime minister said if elected into office, his government will offer an accountable and transparent leadership which will have the people’s needs at heart and deliver jobs and better lives to them.

He warned that voting for Zanu PF would plunge the country back into socio-economic problems that were seen before the formation of the unity government.

Mr. Tsvangirai said voters should reject Zanu PF, adding the former ruling party has nothing new to offer having been in power for three decades.

He reiterated that President Mugabe is too old to be seeking another term of office.

The MDC-T leader Mr. Mugabe should not fear going into retirement thinking that he would be arrested for rights abuses.

Mr. Tsvangirai also assured war veterans that his government would recognize the role they played in liberating the country from colonial rule and would continue to look after them.

The prime minister, who is on a campaign trail in the Midlands province, also urged his followers to support the party’s candidate for the Vungu Constituency, radio personality Ezra Sibanda, and those running for council seats.

The MDC-T leader, who later addressed other rallies in rural Shurugwi, will Friday take his campaign to Mberengwa culminating in a star rally to be held in Zvishavane’s Mandava Stadium in the afternoon.

Meanwhile, Zapu will this Saturday launch its election manifesto at a rally to be addressed by party President Dumiso Dabengwa midday at Stanley Square in Makokoba.

Mkhululi Zulu, of the party’s information and publicity department, said issues such as devolution of power and the prevailing political situation in the country would be addressed.