MDC-T initiates National Convergence Conference to solve the Zim crisis

via MDC-T initiates National Convergence Conference to solve the Zim crisis 9 January 2015

MDC-T has set a committee to mobilise all political parties, civic organisations and other stakeholders for a national convergence conference to find solutions to the Zimbabwe crisis, Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC-T president, told journalists in Harare today.

The conference expected in two months time on a date to be decided, would result in an agreed roadmap by stakeholders to rescue the ‘deepening’ national crisis.

Tsvangirai said the conference will not be an MDC platform but an opportunity for all players in their diversity to agree on the national grievances and collectively chart the way forward for the country.

“The idea of the national convergence conference arose after we realised that the national crisis was affecting every Zimbabwean regardless of political, ethnic and racial differences.

“Political parties, war veterans, civic groups, the church and other independent organisations and individuals will be invited. The invitation will be extended to Zanu (PF) despite being responsible for the crisis we find ourselves in,” Tsvangirai said, expressing hope that the conference would lead to implementation of agreed reforms followed by general free and fair elections.

He noted that the resultant legitimate government would come up with the desired economic and social transformation.

The former Prime Minister called on Zimbabweans to not to allow egos and petty differences to stand in the way of noble agenda to bring change in the country and to positively transform the lives of the people.

A global campaign to sensitise the region, Africa and the world on the crisis gripping Zimbabwe and the need for the country to return to democracy would be launched.

MDC-T has since warned SADC Heads of State about a possible implosion in Zimbabwe ‘since stopping Zanu (PF) and liberating Zimbabweans must be a global cause’.

“In the MDC, we believe in this country becoming a dignified home with equal opportunities for all citizens, farmers, housewives, business people, students, labour, the church and the unemployed.

SADC and the AU were reminded that the declining economic situation and the implosion in Zanu (PF) as the ruling had far reaching consequences for stability, development and democracy in the region.

Tsvangirai took the opportunity to indicate that Zimbabweans would not forget the role played by Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Gukurahundi, repression in the June 27, 2008 presidential election runoff as Minister of Defence and the electoral theft of 2013.

“The changes made by Mugabe in both Zanu (PF) and government which saw the appointment of Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko as Vice Presidents were simply cosmetic but lacking in capacity to change the direction taken by the country.

“The VPs are trapped in the ruinous and disastrous legacy of Mugabe’s failures,” said Tsvangirai, pointing out that the two had no mandate of the people to be in the presidium since they were appointed by Mugabe.

Mnangagwa was described as a non-reformist who failed to implement the Constitution as Minister of Justice.

Commenting on the state of the economy, Tsvangirai said, the national predicament was worsening with each day as the Zanu (PF) government was stumbling from one crisis to the other.

This, Tsvangirai said, was a clear sign of a failed national leadership which was not people centered. He took a swipe at Mugabe for going on an extravagant holiday in East Asia while the country was burning.

“For his age, it is understandable why our President would want to rest. But what he needs is a not an annual holiday but to admit to his failure of leadership at this critical national hour of need.

“Surely, we cannot all be blind to the reality of his state of health, his age and his physical frailties,” Tsvangirai noted, highlighting that government had sunk as low as failing to pay its workers compounded with its unpredictable policies.

He said the country’s economy had adopted a free contraction trend with the 2014 GDP having contracted by between 10-14 percent.

Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe should have learnt the lesson that there was urgent need for re-engagement with the international community for budgetary support, if it were to meet essential social and other targets.

“There is no respite in the ongoing financial collapse while business continues to suffer from the collapse of confidence, as represented by the Stock Market which has declined by 40 percent since the election of 2013.”