Tsvangirai plays down rift with Ncube

Tsvangirai plays down rift with Ncube

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By Violet Gonda

ZIMBABWE'S opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has downplayed widely reported sharp differences within his party over participation in the Senate elections set for November.

Tsvangirai rejected media reports of internal strife within the six-year-old party, instead suggesting that "people just held different views."

The opposition leader, who has been holding consultative meetings with party structures throughout the country, says so far there was an overwhelming decision not to participate.

Tsvangirai said statements attributed to the MDC's Secretary General Professor Welshman Ncube saying "the national council lifted the suspension on election participation and that position has not changed," were just "a legal interpretation."

He reiterated that there was no rift between himself and Professor Ncube and said they were addressing rallies together this past weekend.

"Professor Ncube was with me in Marondera and he explained to people that there is a window of which people should go and consult and that the National Council would meet to decide," Tsvangirai told SW Radio Africa in a telephone interview Monday.

"We are allowing public debate and consultation over this issue and this does not mean it is indecision."

While the ruling Zanu PF is already gearing up for the Senate elections, the opposition leader said the MDC would not be rushed into a decision which now looks set to be announced when the party's National Council meets next week.

Tsvangirai, known to be opposed in taking part in the poll, also summarised his reasons for non-participation into five critical areas. He said:

- He was opposed to piecemeal constitutional changes and cannot be seen legitimising the same body the party was opposed to.

- Zanu PF had never run a free and fair election and hence the outcome was always pre-determined and unless there were fundamental changes to the electoral management system, participating in any election was foolhardy.

- Real focus by all Zimbabweans was to resolve the national crisis, and participating in another poll would not add any value to the resolution of the national crisis.

- Billions of Zimbabwean dollars were going to be spent in conducting the elections when such resources could be spent on basic needs like food for the people.

- It also raised the question of legitimacy; installing 65 senators would not resolve the long held view that Zimbabwe is a pariah state.
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