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Zimbabwe election update 2: 25 February - 3 March, 2008
Solidarity Peace Trust
March 04, 2008

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

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This is the second election update from the Solidarity Peace Trust, summarising 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 they said

TSVANGIRAI ON POVERTY: Zimbabwe's main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday said only an opposition victory in next month's general election would end the country's crippling economic crisis. "We've come here to give all these people hope that the change that is coming is one they can trust, one that will make a difference in the face of massive unemployment, hunger and unprecedented poverty we have all witnessed. The bankrupt Mugabe regime has no solutions to offer," Tsvangirai said. (Business Day, 27th Feb)

CHINAMASA ON MDC-T: "Everybody in Zimbabwe is aware they will lose the elections because they are a puppet party and that they also called for economic sanctions and sold out on the land issue and time has come for them to pay the heavy price . . . We thank Chamisa for forewarning us of their intentions and what they are planning with their sponsors and taking every step to forearm ourselves against any eventuality they are planning against the people of Zimbabwe. The state will not take kindly to such threats." (News24, 1 March)

MAKONI ON ALLIANCES: Zimbabwean presidential hopeful Simba Makoni said on Monday he would not form a coalition with the main opposition party because it would alienate dissenters in President Robert Mugabe's ruling party. "There are a large number of people in Zanu-PF who share my proper vision. I don't want to alienate those people by forming a coalition with one entity," Makoni said in an interview with South Africa's Talk Radio 702. "I am in a coalition with the people of Zimbabwe." (Mail and Guardian, 25 Feb)

MDC-T ON ALLIANCES: Ian Makone, spokesperson for MDC-T said Tsvangirai was not interested in meeting Makoni. The MDC said it would be easier for Makoni to fly to the moon than meet Tsvangirai in the present circumstances. (Zim Independent, 29th Feb)

CHAMISA ON ALLIANCES: "A whole party cannot join an individual. Makoni is an individual not a party. He is not just an ordinary individual, but one who has embraced Zanu PF," Nelson Chamisa said. "Mixing donkeys and cattle does not make the cattle herd bigger." (Zim Independent, 29th Feb).

THERE MUST BE A COALITION - ZIM INDEPENDENT: The key issue is that we must recognise both Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai as true and dedicated politicians who somehow emerged from the same Zanu PF monster. Makoni's history is one of struggle from within - don't despise him. Let's be careful not to throw out the baby with the bathwater. We know President Robert Mugabe's methods and why fall into the trap open-eyed? We all know the problem and what must be done - and Makoni and Tsvangirai must do it for our sake if they are genuine. The complications are naked for all to see. If Makoni and Tsvangirai contest separately it would be hard to get the requisite majority and the confusion would make rigging easier with the rigger claiming that he took advantage of their confusion. In that case, Makoni and Tsvangirai must know that they will be doomed and our woes will continue to escalate. If they unite with Makoni at the helm, then Tsvangirai will obviously be either vice president or prime minister or any such vital post, rather than running all these years without fruits. Let us form a united front and push out the tyrant. (Comment, Zim Independent, 29th Feb).

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