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alleged victims of violence in the 2008 harmonised elections.
“To the chiefs, I want to say the current Constitution does not allow you to be involved in politics. So, if there are any chiefs who say they are Zanu-PF, I want to warn you that you will regret your action because after the next election, it will be us in power,” said Mr Tsvangirai.
He, however, did not specify the action he would take against the chiefs as punishment for supporting the revolutionary party.
Zimbabwe Chiefs Council president Chief Fortune Charumbira could not immediately comment on the threats yesterday.
“Contact me tomorrow (today) after you have published the threats then I will respond adequately,” he said.
Traditional leaders have, however, in the past defended the support they render to Zanu-PF and President Mugabe saying the party and its leader had been steadfast in defending the country’s hard-won independence.
The chiefs have also said they would never support any party that fronts for the erstwhile colonisers.
Turning to next year’s elections, Mr Tsvangirai said the general elections scheduled for March next year should be peaceful.
“We should draw a line and say never again should we allow such things (violence) to be repeated. Violence will not be allowed in next year’s elections and I want to guarantee that there would be free and fair elections.
“We want Sadc, the AU and UN to come and observe the elections,” he said.
President Mugabe has also spoken against violence on several occasions and last week he told delegates who attended the Second All Stakeholders’ Conference on the envisaged new constitution that engaging in acts of violence was primitive.
The President said Zimbabweans had attained high levels of education and should learn to solve their problems through dialogue.
The Head of State and Government and Commander-in-chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces said because of Zimbabwe’s high literacy levels, it was important that the country led by example and shame its detractors. In Chiweshe, Mr Tsvangirai expressed confidence that his party would win the next elections despite the fact that two separate independent surveys have showed that his party’s support base had dwindled countrywide.
The shrinking of Mr Tsvangirai’s support base was attributed to a dearth of people-oriented policies.
The surveys say Zanu-PF had gained tremendously ground on the back of its ideological clarity and pro-people policies.
Online Reporter