Tsvangirai twists Sadc position on Jomic

Tsvangirai yesterday made attempts to mislead the nation on the outcome of the recent Sadc summit held in Angola claiming the bloc resolved to second three officials to work with Jomic as envisaged by the ill-fated Livingstone Troika Summit.

The Jomic issue was dropped after President Muga-be briefed summit on the historical background of the GPA and Jomic status as a sovereign internal institution created by parties in the inclusive Government to monitor progress and implementation of Global Political Agreement. In that regard, President Mugabe said, there was no way Sadc – a sub-regional body – could be part of an internal institution.

However, Mr Tsvangirai told a rally at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare yesterday, that Sadc reiterated that the bloc stood by the Livingstone resolution on Jomic.
“We were in Angola for the Sadc summit last week. Chandinoda kuti ndikuudzei ndechekuti the whole Sadc haisi kudzokera shure. Ine zvinhu zvina zvaya-kataura zvinofanira kuitwa before we go to election.

RELATED STORIES

“The first issue is the issue of the constitution. We should have a new constitution before we go to elections. After that we should go for a referendum and what does that mean? Even a day dreamer can tell you that there are no elections this year. It means that with programmes set by Sadc, elections can only be held next year – 2012. Sadc further said that elections in Zimbabwe should be held just like any other elections according the Sadc electoral guidelines.

“Chimwezve ndechekuti kune vanhu vachauya muno vachitumwa nemaSadc states vachisevenza neJomic to monitor the conditions and full implementation of the Global Political Agreement,”
On political violence, Mr Tsvangirai acknowledged that President Mugabe last Sunday unequivocally called for an end to political violence. He, however, insisted that his party was always on the receiving end of political violence despite his public admittance at his party’s congress in April that the scourge was entrenched within the ranks of the MDC-T.

Mr Tsvangirai even promised to set an independent commission to deal with intra-party violence.
He said in the next election his party supporters should not be victims of violence without elaborating how his party intends to deal with the violence.

Turning to the burial of Gen Solomon Mujuru at the National Heroes Acre on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai said the issue of hero status should not be determined by political parties.
Mr Tsvangirai also bemoaned factionalism in his party in Manicaland.
He said Manicaland province does his party proud in 2008 and should remain united in the next elections.