Tsvangirai threatens poll boycott

By Caiphas Chimhete

Nyanga- Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has reiterated that elections will not be held this year even though Zanu PF is pushing for early polls. Speaking at the memorial service of an MDC-T activist, Rwisai Nyakauru in Nyanga North, Tsvangirai said elections would only be held if there was a conducive political environment.

Nyakauru died aged 82 in April soon after he was released from remand prison. The MDC-T leader said Zanu PF cannot win an election in a free and fair political environment. “There will be no elections this year,” Tsvangirai said. “They will only be held after we attain a level playing field.”

He said the death of Nyakauru, who was allegedly killed by known Zanu PF activists from the same area, must give the people of Zimbabwe renewed conviction to fight for democracy and dislodge Mugabe and Zanu PF in the next elections.

“Nyakauru is a real hero who showed courage and conviction to this democratic struggle, not those people who are awarded hero status for killing people,” Tsvangirai said. Tsvangirai said if Zanu PF wanted elections this year it could hold them but the MDC-T would not be a part of them.

Tsvangirai castigated Zanu PF for perpetrating violence against the people of this country. He however added that no amount of torture or killing would destroy the spirit of a united and determined people.

“Violence is now a religion in this country. You can torture and kill people but you cannot destroy their spirit,” he said. The MDC-T says at least 200 of its activists were murdered by suspected Zanu PF militia and state security agents during the violence in 2008 elections.

About 700 people attended Nyakauru’s memorial service. Also in attendance were Finance minister Tendai Biti, ICT minister Nelson Chamisa and several other MDC-T MPs and Senators. Zimbabwe Standard