Tsvangirai shifts blame for violence

bedeviling his party, shifting blame to Zanu-PF.
This is despite his public acknowledgement of intra-party violence when he officially opened the party’s women and youths assemblies conferences in Bulawayo on Thursday.
Mr Tsvangirai had even threatened to expel those responsible for the skirmishes adding that the party’s national executive had resolved to set an independent commission of inquiry to investigate cases of violence that rocked the party’s provincial elections.
Addressing the MDC-T’s Third national congress at Barbourfields, Mr Tsvangirai said; “I wish to repeat what I said at the Women’s Congress and the Youth Congress by addressing the allegations of factionalism, conflict and corruption that have preceded this congress.
“We are aware that Zanu-PF is a stakeholder in this congress. They want a certain outcome but we have survived infiltration before and we will overcome forever,” he claimed.
Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga was the guest of honour at the congress that opened yesterday.
The MDC-T leader reiterated that the party would not tolerate violence in its ranks.
“But let me once again state that there will be no tolerance of violence in the MDC. There will be no sanctioning of corruption in the MDC. There will be no reward for patronage in the MDC,” Mr Tsvangirai said.
He urged the MDC-T to start preparing for national elections but publicly admitted that removing the revolutionary Zanu-PF party from power was not an easy task.
“Our time in Government has shown us that securing real transfer of power will be no easy task,” Mr Tsvangirai said.
He went on to attack security institutions alleging that they were involving themselves in politics.
“National institutions serve the people and not certain political parties and once the people lose confidence in the security sector, the onus befalls on those institutions to prove that they are worthy of the people’s trust,” Mr Tsvangirai said.
Turning to events in North Africa, Mr Tsvangirai condemned the bombardment of Libya by Western powers led by Britain and France.
“What is happening in North Africa is a continued manifestation of the violation of the people’s fundamental rights. We do not want that to happen here in Zimbabwe. We believe that dialogue and conversation amongst ourselves will solve our problems,” he said.
Traditional MDC-T allies the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the National Constitutional Assembly attended the congress and expressed deep displeasure accusing the party of diverting from its founding principals.
ZCTU president Mr Lovemore Matombo said: “Let us avoid vote buying. I am saying this with a heavy heart because the poor will be bought out of top positions and they will remain poorer.
“We have criticised you publicly but now we say no let us sit down together and see where we differ. After this congress you must do things differently. Do not follow the same footsteps we saw yesterday,” he said.
NCA chairman Professor Lovemore Madhuku, urged the MDC-T not to go to elections before the consummation of a new constitution.
“There is a small thing troubling me. Before you go to the next election get your things right. Have a good constitution.
“This is the issue where we have developed a difference. The NCA is not happy with the process . . .
“We have already condemned Copac,” he said.
He said the NCA would mobilise for a no vote to the new constitution being crafted by Government through Copac.
Meanwhile, results for the women and youths assemblies elections held on Thursday started trickling in yesterday with Theresa Makone retaining her post as chairperson of the women’s assembly after beating Editor Matamisa while Solomon Madzore trounced Amos Chibaya to be elected chairperson of the youths assembly.
Opening the congress, Mr Odinga urged the MDC-T to work with Zanu-PF in the inclusive Government to avoid bloodshed like what happened in his country.
He also attacked some western countries that he accused of looting African resources, while its people were condemned to poverty, hunger and disease.