Tsvangirai slammed for sanctions stance

PM Tsvangirai opened the survey on his website, www.zimbabweprimeminister.org on April 15 this year.
As of last night, 4 095 people whose nationality could not be ascertained, that is 59.7 percent of respondents said they wanted the sanctions regime to stay while 2 768, which is 40.3 percent said the sanctions should be removed.

Mr Tsvangirai, a signatory to the GPA that condemned the sanctions was slammed for going against other principals, Zimbabweans, Sadc and the African Union who have all condemned the sanctions regime.

Analysts said Zimbabweans were unanimous that the illegal embargoes should be lifted, questioning the authenticity of the results posted on the PM’s website.
Mr Tsvangirai’s move was described as shocking coming as it does at a time the countries that imposed the illegal sanctions at his behest are removing them and working towards constructive engagement.

Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe Bishop Trevor Manhanga described Mr Tsvangirai’s actions as shameful.
“If the PM is asking that, it means he no longer has the people at heart and is not a national leader. The American President Mr Barack Obama will never do that asking the Americans if things that are hurting them most should be removed or maintained. . . It’s a shame such questions should never be expected from someone with the PM’s position in Government.’’

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Political scientist and Zanu-PF legislator for Tsholotsho North, Professor Jonathan Moyo said the survey exposed Mr Tsvangirai.
“This shows that the PM is out stepping everyone, the Zimbabweans, Sadc, the AU and the Global Political Agreement that have all condemned the illegal sanctions and have not sought to indulge the sanctions by running some fake survey. These people have spoken against the sanctions. On his website, he is opposed to all these voices. He is abusing the national flag and the national court of arms,” he said.

Prof Moyo said at this point it was alarming to hear the PM was still doubting that the majority of Zimbabweans where doubting the removal of the sanctions and that their position needed to be authenticated by a survey.

“This is not coming from the Zimbabweans. It is coming from his people who are punching these figures on the website.
“Zimbabweans do not want the sanctions and it is surprising where he is getting the 59.7 percent Zimbabweans who are saying they want the sanctions. It’s a shameful display of treachery by the office of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Prof Moyo said the PM said he was going to tour Sadc next week, adding that he was supposed to present the findings of his survey to African leaders that Zimbabweans wanted the illegal sanctions to stay and see how they were going to react.

University of Zimbabwe lecturer Dr Charity Manyeruke said it was surprising that Mr Tsvangirai was asking Zimbabweans if they wanted the sanctions to go yet he recently sent his party’s deputy treasuer general Mr Elton Mangoma together with Zanu-PF and MDC officials to Britain for re-engagement talks.