Mutambara turns heat on Mugabe

Mutambara turns heat on Mugabe

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE'S main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) ratcheted up the pressure on President Robert Mugabe by launching a campaign to stop him from extending his term by two years.

Arthur Mutambara, leader of one of the two opposition MDC factions wants Mugabe to quit when his term expires next year.

Mutambara told journalists: "The defiance campaign is launched around the twin issues of saying NO to the postponement of the 2008 presidential election and saying NO to the holding of elections under the current constitutional and legal arrangements.

"These two issues are at the very core of the resolution of the current crisis."

Mutambara, a former NASA scientist and militant student leader, added that the opposition party would “in due course announce a series of defiance activities throughout the country around key issues.”

“It is defiance or death. It is confrontation or capitulation. We choose to defy and confront,” Mutambara said.

Asked by journalists if it was possible to have a new constitution and hold
elections next year, Mutambara said if even two years was needed to come up with a new constitution everyone would be flexible about the timeline on polls but
the “transition would be determined by the people of Zimbabwe.”

He added: “They have realised through their governor (Gideon Gono) that they have reached the end of the road. The constitution becomes the only way of
engagement."

The opposition leader said there is no opposition party that can force Mugabe out of power alone and as such they would work with other political parties, student bodies and the National Constitutional Assembly among others.

“We are not ruling out any methods. The defiance campaign will take many
forms: demonstrations, boycotts… we support the strike by doctors. We support
the strike by teachers,” Mutambara added.

Although, the opposition leader said he could not take questions on unity
between the rivals MDC factions as he would call another press conference
specifically for that, he said he was for unification adding that those opposed to it were working for Zanu PF.

Mugabe, 83 this month, faces his toughest test yet in his 27-year rule after poorly paid doctors, nurses, teachers and students launched simultaneous strikes in recent weeks.

Mugabe also faces open opposition within his own party which is trying to block his bid for a term extension as the country goes through its worst economic crisis in living memory.

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