Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Zimbabwe election update 3: 4-9 March, 2008
Solidarity Peace Trust
March 10, 2008

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

Download this document
- Word 97 version (129KB)
- Acrobat PDF version (185KB)
If you do not have the free Acrobat reader on your computer, download it from the Adobe website by clicking here.

This is the third election update from the Solidarity Peace Trust, summarising into general categories the notable events and quotes of the last week, 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. All updates available on the website.

What they they said

JOHN NKOMO ON DABENGWA: his defection is a "non-event." "What happened at White City is good riddance. It is now clear that we have infiltrators among us," he said. "We are also not crying, as we believe there is freedom of choice. This is a passing phase, which people should not preoccupy themselves with." (FinGaz, 6 March).

MUTASA ON SELL OUTS: ZANU-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa said Makoni and Dabengwa "should be ashamed of what they have done," the Sunday Mail said. "They are abandoning their leader for thirty pieces of silver." (Monsters and Critics, 2 March).

MUGABE ON DABENGWA: "Why should Cde Dabengwa have gone that divergent way? I can't understand what the real motivation is. What makes me feel rather upset is that Makoni was never in the limelight. Dumiso came from the grassroots. I can't understand why, he chose to follow a little man like Makoni." Yet Mugabe avoided attacking Dabengwa at rallies in Plumtree and Esibomvu Business Centre in Esigodini. (Standard, 9 March).

DABENGWA ON HIS DEFECTION: "I remain resolute, I have nothing to fear. I will not respond to whatever is being said about me." (FinGaz, 6 March)

. . . . ON THE POLITBURO: "I am normally invited when there is a politburo meeting. If I am in Bulawayo, I am sent a ticket. I do not expect one." (Zim Ind, 7 March)

. . . . AND ON UNITY: "To a larger extent, unity was achieved in an unbalanced and forced manner." Dabengwa said the accord was fundamentally flawed. "It was discussed under pressure and people were being killed. Very unfortunate compromises were made (by PF-Zapu) to avoid further suffering of our people." He said the two parties (PF-Zapu and Zanu PF) should put into force the accord agreed just before the Lancaster House Conference. "We need to go back to the real unity accord signed in blood in Mozambique," he said.

MAGAISA ON DABENGWA: "those that consider suffering under Mugabe a ticket for leadership may wish to stretch their memories further and consider that the suffering endured by those who have gallantly stood in opposition in the last eight years was preceded by unfortunate events which, in legal terms, will always be personified by the experiences of Dabengwa and his late colleague Lookout Masuku." (Standard, 9 March)

JONATHON MOYO: WE NEED A NEW BUS NOT A NEW DRIVER: "If Makoni had agreed to a united front we would have witnessed a similar wave to that when the MDC was formed in 1999 . . . . Given Makoni's reputation, calibre and abilities we would have had a fantastic candidate, but it is unfortunate that this opportunity is being squandered. A President cannot be stand alone. A President should be a member of a group with formal structures, obligations and principles. It's different when you want to be an MP for a constituency like Tsholotsho . . . Makoni is not much of an alternative. He is leading another faction in Zanu PF. Makoni is the leader of Zanu PF-B and Mugabe is leading Zanu PF-A. Makoni's people have said they only want to change the bus driver. But Zimbabweans are saying they want more than that. They want a new driver and a damn new bus and maybe even a new destination." (FinGaz, 6 March)

Download full document

Visit the Solidarity Peace Trust fact sheet

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP