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Nehanda Radio is in possession of the explosive letter which has Tsvangirai telling Mbeki bluntly, 'The MDC sees your role as mediator as neither appropriate nor effective.'
01 June 2008
By Staff Reporters
MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai has accused South African President Thabo Mbeki of 'complicity' and secretly conniving to perpetuate Robert Mugabe's dictatorial rule.
In a letter dated 13 May, Tsvangirai warned that, 'there will be no country left,' if Mbeki continued as mediator adding the country had gone to the dogs and plunged into horrendous violence on Mbeki's watch.
Nehanda Radio is in possession of the explosive letter which has Tsvangirai telling Mbeki bluntly, 'The MDC sees your role as mediator as neither appropriate nor effective.'
Tsvangirai accuses Mbeki of lacking neutrality, dividing the MDC, blocking United Nations discussion on Zimbabwe and helping Mugabe's regime acquire weapons from China.
In other accusations Tsvangirai blames Mbeki for ' Suppressing the Khampepe-Moseneke Report on the 2002 Zimbabwe elections and says Mbeki has no “moral claim to mediate a state of affairs at which he has, in secret, connived”; and breaching the principles of mediation by showing a lack of respect for the MDC.
Tsvangirai proceeded to write, 'Not only have you been unable to denounce the well-documented post-election attacks on our people, but your government even played a role in Zimbabwean government procurement of weapons of repression (tear gas and batons, for example) and agreed to allow passage of arms of war purchased by the same government through South African territory during the troubled post-election period.'
The MDC leader who won the first round of presidential elections in the March 29 poll said when Mbeki started mediating, 'the country still had a functioning economy. Millions of citizens had not fled to other countries to escape political and economic crisis and thousands had not died by impoverishment and disease. Zimbabwe has plunged into horrendous violence while you have been mediating. With respect, if we continue like this, there will be no country left.'
Tsvangirai’s letter came as another letter — allegedly written by Mbeki to US President George Bush — surfaced in which Mbeki is said to tell Bush to “butt out” of Zimbabwe. Presidential spokesman Mukoni Ratshitanga yesterday told the Sunday Times that “neither Tsvangirai nor the MDC leadership had written a letter of (that) kind to Mbeki. 'We are concerned that there are people who seem to be ready to peddle lies about the mediation process and a range of other issues,' he said.
Tsvangirai’s letter also reveals how he handed Mbeki copies of secret documents outlining a decision by the Zimbabwean government to deploy soldiers, war veterans and militia in a violent campaign. “You expressed deep concern and suggested you would convene a meeting between myself and Mr Mugabe before the SADC summit (in April). I travelled to South Africa and waited for a full day for this meeting ... No one from your office ever contacted me.”
He says the MDC remains “fully committed to SADC’s critical role in Zimbabwe and has no problem with South Africa’s participation in mediation efforts”. Rather, “it is your own involvement as exclusive mediator to which we take exception”. He adds: “When the MDC attempted to appeal to the UN Security Council to investigate and help stop the carnage, it was you, the so called neutral mediator, who blocked a possible road to a resolution of the crisis.”
The MDC says Mbeki’s infamous “no-crisis” appearance on television with Mugabe was the last straw. “Following this comment and others you made to SADC heads of state, it became clear to the MDC executive that it must urgently review (our) relationship with you and your role in the mediation.” Mbeki is further accused of trying to split the MDC by talking to other party leaders behind Tsvangirai’s back.
“As a leader, whilst you may not have respect for me as a person, I can only ask you to respect the position that I hold, which position and responsibility has been endorsed by the majority of Zimbabweans, who voted for me,” Tsvangirai says.-Staff Reporters/The Times.
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