Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says he will confront President Robert Mugabe over continued threats by senior security officers that they will not respect any election outcome that does not retain the 88-year-old leader’s Zanu PF party in power.
Civic group representatives who met Tsvangirai on Tuesday to discuss electoral reforms, the state of the unity government and the constitution-making process, also expressed serious concern at remarks by Zimbabwe National Army Major General Trust Mugoba that the military establishment backs Zanu PF.
Speaking at the funeral parade of Lieutenant-Colonel Thabani Khumalo at Imbizo Barracks in Bulawayo Tuesday, Major Mugoba said the army will fight with their blood any leader whose policies are different from Mugabe’s party.
At the just-ended Southern Africa Development Community summit in Luanda, Angola, Mr. Tsvangirai also told regional leaders that he is disturbed by the “unconstitutional and treasonous” statements being made by service chiefs that they will not respect the constitution and any election outcome that does not favor his rival, Mugabe.
Organizing Secretary Nelson Chamisa of Mr. Tsvangirai’s MDC formation told VOA that the meeting with civic groups discussed many issues concerning the country.
Zanu PF and the Movement for Democratic Change Formation formation of Trade Minister Welshman Ncube snubbed Tsvangirai’s meeting.
National Constitution Assembly information officer Blessing Vava said civic groups are concerned by the constitution-making process which he says is ignoring the people’s views.
Political analyst Pedzisayi Ruhanya, a PHD candidate at Westminster University in London, commented that regional leaders must rein in Zimbabwe’s securocrats to ensure continued stability in the southern African region.
