27 April, 2009

MDC President, Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday raised concerns over outstanding issues that are affecting the inclusive government formed in February.

He was addressing over 30 000 MDC supporters gathered at Chinhoyi Stadium in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West province to commemorate the MDC’s 10th anniversary celebrations.

Although the President gave a commitment that there was no going back on the inclusive government, he was deeply concerned that the inclusive government was facing a number of teething problems that were affecting its day-to-day operations.

"There's no reverse on the inclusive government. There will be insults, but we will get there. We have one project, which is the inclusive government. It has specific policies and specific targets, which is to pull this country out of the quagmire," Hon. Tsvangirai said.

"We respect each other, although we may disagree. There's nothing Mugabe does without me approving and there is nothing I do without him approving," he said.

However, Hon. Tsvangirai said some of the challenges the government was facing included the appointments of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor, the Attorney-General, ambassadors, permanent secretaries and the swearing of Senator Roy Bennett, the MDC national treasurer as deputy Agriculture minister.

He also called for the immediate release of all political prisoners such as, Gandhi Mudzingwa, his former personal aide and Chris Dhlamini, the MDC head of security.

Hon. Tsvangirai also raised concerns over the lawlessness that was taking place in some farms.

“Let’s not take the law into our hands. We should be able to distinguish between land issues and criminality. We will not tolerate violence and chaos that is taking place in some farms especially here in Mashonaland West province,” he warned.

“The issue that we all should speak with one voice is the land,” Hon. Tsvangirai said.

He explained that under the Global Political Agreement (GPA) there was no room for taking the law into one’s hands.

President Tsvangirai also called for the training of the police and army in human rights issues in order for them to conduct their duties professionally, without being partisan.

The president also paid tribute to several MDC supporters from Mashonaland West province and Senator Bennett who were recently released from remand prison on trumped-up charges of banditry, terrorism and insurgency.

Those who were abducted by the State security agents and spent at least three months in remand are; MDC Mashonaland West provincial chairperson, Concilia Chinanzvavana, and her husband, Manuel Chinanzvavana, Violet Mupfuranhewe and her husband Collen Mutemangau and their two year-old son, Nigel Mutemangau.

“They are the true cadres of the nation. We salute you because without your sacrifices, the MDC would not be what it is today,” said President Tsvangirai.

The President was accompanied by senior MDC leaders who included, the national chairman, Hon. Lovemore Moyo, Senator Bennett, national organising secretary, Hon. Elias Mudzuri and the secretary for information and publicity, Hon. Nelson Chamisa.

Meanwhile, Hon. Chamisa, who is also the MP for Kuwadzana East in Harare on Sunday, told a report back rally in the constituency that the inclusive government was trying to solve problems bedevilling residents.

“We want to make sure that residents have affordable water and electricity while those areas that have no electricity we will make sure that something is done as a matter of urgency,” Hon. Chamisa told over 10 000 MDC supporters gathered at the rally.

Speaking at the same rally Senator Bennett said was humbled by the support he had received from the people during his incarceration in Mutare but said there was an unstoppable winds of change engulfing the country.

“All the persecution I have suffered is unwarranted and an attempt to stop the winds of change. When I was in prison you prayed for me. And I want to thank you all the people of Zimbabwe for remaining resolute in the face of such harassment and terror,” he said.

Bennett said nothing could stop the winds of change adding the persecution he had suffered was nothing as compared to the violence endured by many Zimbabweans across the country during election-related violence last year. He said many paid the ultimate prize.

“Zanu PF is scared of the people going to vote. The only thing that can defeat Zanu PF is the X. No amount of persecution can stop an idea whose time has come. These people think they can stop change by refusing to swear me into office. But no one can ever go against the people and God and hope to succeed,” said Senator Bennett.