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Zimbabwe election update 1: 14 - 24 February, 2008
Solidarity Peace Trust
February 25, 2008

http://www.solidaritypeacetrust.org/?page=elections&PHPSESSID=7516d9d62c9864247f26dc7b4ff799fc

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This week the Solidarity Peace Trust begins a regular election update, which will summarise into general categories the notable events and quotes of the last week to ten days, as Zimbabwe heads into a now highly fluid and unpredictable election. Sources are media articles from both government and independent media published within the dates of the summary, as well as statements from civic groups.

What they said

TSVANGIRAI ON MAKONI: Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday declared he would work with anyone who opposed the dictatorship of President Robert Mugabe while denouncing former ruling party presidential candidate Simba Makoni as tainted goods. The MDC leader welcomed Makoni to the ranks of the opposition and reminded him that opposition leaders in Zimbabwe face arrest, beatings, tear gas and treason trials. Tsvangirai then hit hard at Makoni, saying that the former finance minister had taken too long to finally speak out about the situation in Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai accused Makoni of saying nothing during Operation Murambatsvina, when the government destroyed homes and businesses, displacing nearly a million people. He also said Makoni watched while people were tortured, teargassed and opposition members were beaten. "Makoni knows this, he's seen it from the safety of the ZANU-PF Politburo. He may soon experience it first hand", said Tsvangirai. (SWRadio, 14 Feb)

MAKONI ON MAKONI said that Zimbabwe needed fresh leadership to "heal the wounds" of 28 years of President Robert Mugabe's rule. Makoni, who declared his candidacy recently, predicts a landslide win against Mugabe based on a campaign platform of reviving the battered economy and restoring political freedoms and property rights. The biggest tasks, he said, will be to lift Zimbabwe out of its deep economic crisis and "national despair". The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, which runs the elections, reported an increase in the number of new voter registrations this week. Makoni claims credit for the surge. (Press conference, 15 Feb)

MUTAMBARA ON MAKONI: "It must be understood within the opposition that there is absolutely no alternative to working together. Self-serving bickering and infighting among the democratic forces must be shunned. All political leaders must put national interest before self interest. The two MDC formations have neither monopoly of political wisdom, nor the immutable right to represent the people of Zimbabwe... Even if reunification of the two MDC formations is achieved, it is not enough, to dislodge Zanu PF. We have to grow the democratic forces beyond the traditional MDC support base. This should be done by attracting reform minded people from within Zanu PF, other political parties, and those who are not currently in active party politics. Furthermore there should be enhanced cooperation with Zimbabwe civic society organizations, thus unlocking synergies amongst all democratic forces. Organizations such as NCA, Crisis Coalition, ZCTU, ZINASU, WOZA, MOZA, Women's Coalition, and the Churches have shown spectacular courage under vicious attacks." (MDC release)

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