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Hebert Zharare and Tendai Mugabe
LAWYERS and political analysts say MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai should be held accountable for holding the country to ransom by making “frivolous and vexatious” applications in courts challenging Presidential results without legal basis. Prominent Harare lawyer Mr Jonathan Samukange yesterday said Mr Tsvangirai’s application was baseless in the first place.
“He never had a case at all. He filed an unsworn affidavit. In fact, the whole document was poorly done. It is prudent of him not to continue to make a fool of himself.
“If he had continued with this case, it would have proved beyond doubt that he is not a leader. He has actually salvaged what is left of his reputation. The withdrawal of the petition paves way for President Mugabe’s inauguration. There is nothing that can stop President Mugabe’s inauguration,” he said.
The withdrawal of the court application by Mr Tsvangirai, who was soundly beaten by President Mugabe in the July 31 presidential election, should now pave the way for the inauguration of President Mugabe.
Political analyst and Zanu-PF Politburo member Professor Jonathan Moyo said the MDC-T was embarrassed that it brought before the courts a fabrication by British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Deborah Bronnert which had not basis.
“No one besides Tsvangirai and Ambassador Bronnert made the allegation that there were 10 000 assisted voters in one constituency. Tsvangirai said he was advised without disclosing who advised him. When pushed to prove their allegations, they failed to do so.
“What is unfortunate is that they have wasted and delayed inauguration of the President without any reason. He has denied Zimbabweans enjoyment of their votes. This is an attack on our national interest.”
Prof Moyo said it was important to respect the country’s laws and institution.
“These (courts) are not playing grounds for children. You cannot treat an election petition like going to the toilet. They must be taken to task and apologise to the nation.”
Prof Moyo said Ambassador Bronnert should also apologise to President Mugabe and Zimbabweans for making false allegations.
One of the long time allies of the MDC-T and secretary general of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, Mr Raymond Majongwe, yesterday said the MDC-T was a myopic party, adding they could have seen this coming before lodging the application.
He said the fact that Sadc, the AU, Comesa and the rest of the world endorsed the elections and lauded the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for a job well done meant that the elections was a done deal.
“The MDC-T should have said lets go back to the drawing board and examine where we went wrong, pick up the pieces and move forward. Right now the MDC-T as a party, the centre might not be holding. They need to do serious paradigm shift, behave like an African party and be focused as a Zimbabwean political party.
“They must know that they are fighting against Zanu-PF, not any other party and that calls for seriousness.
“As for leadership change, it’s up to them, but they must do serious soul searching,” he said.
A close MDC-T source told The Herald last night that the party was forced to withdraw the case by some of their lawyers.
The source said one of the senior lawyers advised MDC-T leadership that the best way out was to withdraw the case.
“It is a political strategy to save the party and professional careers of the lawyers representing it. The idea is to keep the two cases hanging and use them as a future political comeback.
“The lawyers representing the party and others who were working behind the scene on Monday threatened to withdraw from the case.
“They came to the conclusion that the case was legally unsustainable especially given that the MDC-T leadership politicised the matter by assaulting the bench.
“As such, it was agreed that there should be a political way out that saves the reputation of the lawyers who have been compromised and the party as well,” said the source.
Online Reporter