via Tsvangirai explains why he withdrew presidential election court challenge — Nehanda Radio By Morgan Tsvangirai
There have been many questions on why we withdrew the presidential election court challenge. Our National Executive met on Friday and we were given a report by our lawyers stating that there were two problems confronting the court challenge.
One was that our application to get necessary information from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had been deferred without any conclusion so that heavily prejudiced our ability to present our case.
The second was that the Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku had narrowed down the petition to one based on affidavits. We had hoped that it would be an open court with witnesses being called in to testify.
Because of those two roadblocks placed our way it was futile to proceed with the case. It became very clear to us that this case was being predetermined.
Many of you have been made to believe that this marks the end of the road for us, that by withdrawing the court case, we have conceded defeat. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The struggle has not ended. It is just starting. This was just the legal route. The struggle continues in the political arena. We have never closed our avenue to continue with the political struggle. This is a political crisis and it requires a political solution.
I still enjoy the mandate of my party as well as the support of millions of people who voted for change on July 31. Using that mandate, I will continue serving the people until we achieve the desired results.
COMMENTS
“This is a political crisis…”
This is a phrase I must remember to counter accusations of cheating when I next fiddle the gameplay in Monopoly.
I rather thought that the 2013 voting game in Zimbabwe was characterised by criminal activity; fraudlence, theft of voter rights, extortion, conmanship, and general ‘cooking the books’
And the ‘perps’ will get away with it – considering that is 2008 they got away with worse criminal activities such as murder, rape and blatant intimidation.
All these activities the MDC pass off as ‘political’ issues give sanction to what normal people would call injustices.
When you come to think of it WW1, WW2, Vietnam, Korean War, Somalia, Congo and other numerous conficts past and present can all be passed off laconically as ‘political’ issues.
On such basis – carry on Mugabe and Tsvangirai; the pawns in your political games will always be the hapless masses, regardless.
I get what you are Malcom…maybe both these dudes don’t even care about us…might be better if we get rid of the two of these pipo cause w are jst fed up of ol this circus…
I shudder to think the logical thinking of the mdc and their legal team that filed the challenge with the court.Why didnt they look at all the implications ,including reasons tsvangirai talks abt now.They all said they have sufficient evidence and it gave hope to all and sundry.Today they tell us a different story.I guess the nxt step is:tsvangirai has bn offered the post of…… within zanu pf gov.And he will tell us he is doing it for the country.The same style zanu used on Joshua Nkomo and zapu is going to be repeated as zanu is good at swallowing strong opponents.Zimbabweans again and again are the losers and sufferers.Muri kuda kudya chete vana tsvangirai.Kana zvisizvo,ibvawo pahupresident papindevo umwe tione.Tsvangirai kana une chido chenyika uye usina kufanana namugabe; Biti ngaambo kwikwidza nxt election.Fofofo
There are four potential battlegrounds where Zanu PF can be taken on and potentially defeated 1. Legal 2. Millitary, 3. Political, 4. Economic. Legal route has been closed systematically by Zanu PF, the millitary arena is a non-starter for the MDC. Politically Zanu PF has outmaneuvered the MDC, starting with the GNU, farce elections, and now endorsement by SADC. The only avenue left for the MDC to ever defeat Zanu PF and assume governance is Zanu PF dragging the country to an economic abyss like they did in 2008, a likely but painful scenario for the country and the region!
Greyhora I couldnt agree with you more.MDC should have allowed the gov of a few years ago to implode.It would of happened within a few weeks.Just want to add get rid of MT and quite a number of his senior sidekicks.Mugabe has beaten them at every turn.After all these years they havent leaned a thing.
The economy of Zimbabwe, from where I stand is in the hands of Zimbabweans, including those in the diaspora. They have the economic muscle they lacked in the past. The Zimbabwe situation therefore calls for those who have their investments, including their money, to call the tune. “He who pays the piper, calls the tune”. Zimbabweans can free themselves even now, because Mugabe and ZANU are broke inside Zimbabwe. If they try to drag Zimbabweans into an economic abyss,as before, they will not be able to do it because this is not year 2003/2004 when Zimbabweans had no money or influence in the economy. Now they have. Money that is changing hands in Zimbabwe is coming from Zimbabweans. They will able to buy their own services, without worrying about Mugabe and his Zimbabwe dollar. The US$ must and will continue to remain in their accounts, no doubt.
The Lord will also guide us in to how we use our vast economic and mental capabilities in the future. We shall also get the leadership we deserve,from our elected leaders, in the not too distant future. Praise the God of Abraham, our God! He will accomplish this for us.
Do not be depressed Zimbabweans, true freedom is coming.I am a Zimbabwean too and am not depressed.
Problem is that too many people invested their trust in an individual:Morgan Tsvangirai. Now that he lost the elections, many are disappointed. It was self-invited trouble.