FORMER Prime Minister and the late opposition founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, was betrayed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa after being promised a transitional authority ahead of elections, his successor Nelson Chamisa said Saturday.<\/p>\n
Chamisa was addressing thousands of party supporters at Tsvangirai\u2019s memorial held at the late trade unionist\u2019s rural home in Buhera, Manicaland.<\/p>\n
\u201cTsvangirai was promised a transitional authority by Zanu PF. I asked if he was sure about Mnangagwa\u2019s sincerity. He (Tsvangirai) said let us give them time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fact is that Tsvangirai was betrayed on the agenda of a transitional authority that would have guaranteed this country a clean and undisputed election,\u201d said Chamisa.<\/p>\n
In the tumultuous events that preceded the removal of former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017, Tsvangirai supported the military coup as well as the demonstrations that were followed by Mnangagwa\u2019s return from exile and his subsequent rise to power.<\/p>\n
The MDC also supported Mugabe\u2019s impeachment that was however, halted after the then Zanu PF leader resigned just before Parliament debated his removal.<\/p>\n
Chamisa told cheering supporters that he had no intention of taking power by unconstitutional means but would force Mnangagwa to the negotiating table.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have no aim of removing this government by force. For this country to move forward, there has to be dialogue between the MDC and Zanu PF.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere has to be dialogue between Mnangagwa and me. Anything else they are doing with these other people if child\u2019s play,\u201d the MDC leader said making reference to a dialogue platform initiated by Mnangagwa that includes all candidates to last year\u2019s presidential election.<\/p>\n
Chamisa has rejected Mnangagwa\u2019s invite prompting the Zanu PF leader to liken him to the Biblical Satan\u2019s revolt in Heaven.<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of the elections, Chamisa argued he had been robbed of victory through rigging and approached the Constitutional Court in a bid to overturn Mnangagwa\u2019s win.<\/p>\n
However, his petition was thrown out for lack of merit and confirmed Mnangagwa as duly elected leader of Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n
But Chamisa insists Mnangagwa was never legitimately elected instead was installed by the Apex Court.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the numbers. Nobody voted for Mnangagwa, its known. He was installed by the Constitutional Court, not by the people and we have to deal with this problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reforms that Tsvangirai fought for is what we want but also what the people voted for must be respected. We must be allowed to govern as the people decided,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen the country can move forward with a legitimate people\u2019s government.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the MDC set to hold its first elective congress after Tsvangirai\u2019s death last year, Chamisa who has already been confirmed as substantive leader without contest said he will consult with regional leaders to find a solution to Zimbabwe\u2019s political logjam.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will drag Mnangagwa to dialogue kicking and screaming,\u201d said Chamisa.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FORMER Prime Minister and the late opposition founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai, was betrayed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa after being promised a transitional authority ahead of elections, his successor Nelson Chamisa said Saturday. Chamisa was addressing thousands of party supporters at Tsvangirai\u2019s memorial held at the late trade unionist\u2019s rural home in Buhera, Manicaland. \u201cTsvangirai was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":8339,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,12],"tags":[38,113,88,31],"class_list":{"0":"post-8337","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-all-news","8":"category-policy","9":"tag-zanu-pf","10":"tag-chamisa","11":"tag-mdc","12":"tag-mnangagwa"},"yoast_head":"\n