via Mugabe inauguration: Tsvangirai ‘can’t attend a robber’s party’ | News | Africa | Mail & Guardian
Morgan Tsvangirai will not attend Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s inauguration, say the MDC leader’s aides.
“Expecting Tsvangirai to attend the inauguration is like expecting a victim of robbery to attend a party hosted by the robber,” said Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka.
“He can’t attend a robber’s party.”
Thursday has been declared a public holiday to allow people to attend Mugabe’s swearing-in, which will be held in a 60 000-seat sports stadium on the outskirts of the capital, Harare.
It promises to be more high-profile than in previous years, a show of power designed to confer legitimacy amid persistent allegations of electoral fraud.
The ceremony had been delayed after Tsvangirai challenged the election results in a petition to the Constitutional Court.
On Tuesday, the Constitutional Court cleared the way for the inauguration after ruling that the elections last month were “free, fair and credible”.
The ceremony’s organisers said around 40 heads of state have been invited to the event.
‘A massive fraud’
Thousands of Mugabe’s supporters are expected to troop in from across the country.
Zimbabwe’s electoral commission declared Mugabe the winner with 61% of the ballot, against his main rival Tsvangirai’s 34%.
The elections ended a shaky power-sharing government formed by Mugabe and Tsvangirai four years ago to avoid a tip into conflict following a bloody presidential run-off election.
Tsvangirai condemned the election as “a farce” and “a massive fraud, demanding a forensic audit of the election results.
Among other complaints, Tsvangirai queried the unusually high number of voters who were turned away from urban areas which are considered strongholds of his party.
He also complained that rural supporters of his party were ordered by Mugabe party youth to feign illiteracy and vote in the presence of police and electoral officers. – AFP
COMMENTS
Why should he attend? Whats special about Robert?
Well Tamborenyika philosophically you can’t attend your own funeral.
And who is Tsvangirai in Zim. An ordinary citizen and husband ****** who has 4 children by 4 different father. it’s a shame that he stil wants attention. Better kuenda kuBuhera kunobatsira mai mugarden.
He should not attend parliament as well. If he does he will be endorsing the theft. Noone should be allowed to get away with this level of robbery. we shall therefore expect SADC, AU and others who worship him to attend and not those who love the truth and justice to follow suit.
He cannot attend parliament because he’s not an MP. He is now just an ordinary citizen and he can go and watch lawmakers debate issues of the day. Otherwise his workplace will be Harvest House for now until he is deposed by either Chamisa or Biti.
You are crazy. In what capacity would he attend parliament when he doesn’t have even a ward? But his MPs who won the elections will attend parliament becoz they represent their people and they have mouths to feed. Don’t mislead them to boycott becoz they will not get a thing and after 3 wks absence, the seat will be declared vacant.
Sadc&Au should follow a good example of ECOWAS
Why not use nukes? The pressure they create will turn the charred bodies into huge diamonds and you can pay off the whole European debt at once. Besides the oozing magma will create a new continent for a land-bridge to America.
This has nothing to do with MPs. Its just ceremonial and nothing to do with the gvt formation you idiot.
Why attending this shame inaguration leave mugabe n his thieves along vachipedzisa nyika
Mugabe is too old to rule zim
He is not ruling … JOC (Joint Operations Command) is doing that.
People of zimbabwe, this is the best day to demonstrate while these head of state r in the country, we have to show them our anger. Especialy Zuma. Zimbabweans, we need to be brave inorder to free ourselves from this evil regime.
Viva Cde Rober tMugabe.
@mujibha.zuma isn’t coming and if u demonstrate tino kurovai zvakaipa
Let them put their departing donkey alone.
Zvavharwa, zvirizvekurohwa izvi tatindivara, takabvira nguva yehondo tichirohwa nemativi ese masoja nemacomrade. I think i have got a better cv in that area than u. What goes round always comes around. Chenjera ngozi mun’ina nenyaya yekutumwa kuzvakatsa vanhu.