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Zimbabwe: Zanu (ndonga) blasts Tsvangirai
The Herald (Zimbabwe)
January 19, 2007

http://allafrica.com/stories/200701190082.html

ZANU (Ndonga) has blasted MDC faction leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai for misrepresenting the spirit and concept of the so-called Save Zimbabwe, saying the broad alliance was never meant to seek international support or intervention.

Speaking from Mutare, party spokesman Mr Reketayi Semwayo said Save Zimbabwe -- a broad alliance comprising political parties and civic society -- was formed, among other reasons, to mobilise support in the country and fight against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by Western countries.

Mr Semwayo said Mr Tsvangirai had no mandate to speak for the alliance, adding that he should give a true reflection of the aims and goals of the alliance should he want to speak about it.

He was responding to Mr Tsvangirai's statements at a Press conference on Wednesday where the opposition leader unveiled plans to tour Western capitals seeking support to pressure the Government to hold presidential elections in 2008.

"We never agreed that we will be mobilising support from the international community, but our aim is lobbying for support locally and fight for the removal of sanctions," said Mr Semwayo, who is former personal aide to the late party leader, Reverend Ndabaningi Sithole.

"Tsvangirai has no right or mandate to speak for other parties; neither does he have the mandate to speak for Save Zimbabwe.

"We are tired of people who continue globe-trotting using other parties to seek donors from the international community like what he is doing.

"One of our agreements as Save Zimbabwe is to mobilise financial support to stop sanctions because they are hurting ordinary people."

According to political observers, Mr Tsvangirai's remarks were aimed at buttressing the sanctions lobby ahead of the review by the European Union Council of Ministers in Brussels next month.

The MDC faction leader's utterances come in the wake of a secret meeting he held with the rival Mutambara faction at the behest of American ambassador Mr Christopher Dell.

Mr Dell is reported to have ordered the factions to unite in their offensive against the Government.

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