Source: Tsvangirai drops poll boycott – The Standard May 1, 2016
The Morgan Tsvangirai led MDC-T has ended its election boycott and will now contest the 2018 general polls despite its “No Reforms, No Elections” campaign adopted in 2014.
BY NQOBANI NDLOVU
Zanu PF has capitalised on the “No Reforms, No Elections” campaign by grabbing all parliamentary by-elections held since last year as MDC-T boycotted.
In Bulawayo alone, Zanu PF won all six by-elections that the MDC T boycotted in June last year.
“We are preparing to participate in the 2018 elections and we are very categorical about it,” Tsvangirai told journalists at the Bulawayo Press Club on Friday night.
“What we are saying is that when we go to that election, it must give the people the confidence that the election will not be usurped like the 2013 one.”
He added: “We are participating in the 2018 elections and we are very confident that obstacles that were placed in our way before will be removed by the time we go to the polls.”
The MDC-T leader, however, insisted on key electoral reforms to ensure a level playing field.
“Our demand for no reforms no elections, was a campaign. It was not a decision to boycott the 2018 elections. We are not boycotting any election, come 2018. We are going to be there,” he said.
“We are going to make sure that we minimise the conditions that have militated against us. We are going to insist we have a level playing field.”
A decision to boycott by-elections did not go down well with MDC-T officials and legislators, especially those from Matabeleland where Zanu PF had in the past struggled to make inroads.
In Bulawayo, Zanu PF had not won a single seat since 2000.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) commissioner, Qhubani Moyo, said Tsvangirai’s announcement showed a vote of confidence in the country’s electoral system.
“As an electoral management body official, it is good news as it reflects a vote of confidence in the electoral reform processes done so far. We have taken charge of the voters’ roll from the registrar general,” Moyo posted on his Facebook page.
“We have also introduced marker pens and not ink dipping. We are preparing for biometric voter registration. That is how far we have gone so far, but we still have a few more things to do and we are happy that people are already happy.”
COMMENTS
Flip-flop Morgan strikes again. We can be sure that if he ever gets into power he will continue the Zanu PF tradition of policy inconsistency.
Morgan must insist on the Diaspora voting. This regime shouts about one man one vote. Yet they have denied the masses this . Their playing with time will set a dangerous precedent for all opposition parties come 2018.
Great idea – but how does one ‘insist’? Most of us would be grateful to know the answer.
and Tsvangson strikes again. The man is totally not helpful at all
You have to understand what MT has been facing over the years to grasp his strategies. You have to be dodgy when you deal with masters of propaganda , spindoctors and repressers ……. it’s a complicated political game that only those as talented as MT and myself can understand.
It’s good to be assured that we are potentially in the hands of people as ‘talented’ as you and Morgan. But what of the few people who might think that you are a bigoted brainless asshole (and there will be many) who are seeking some better assurances? Enlighten us, please.