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Zanu PF on the warpath
Tendai Biti, Secretary General, Movement for Democratic Change
February 02, 2010

Over the past 12 months the MDC has repeatedly shown its willingness to work with Zanu PF to rebuild Zimbabwe, restore the people's freedoms and deliver real change as agreed in the Global Political Agreement (GPA).

In this government, the MDC has unleashed its positive energy for the benefit of all Zimbabweans to restore basic services, and deliver hope and real change to our nation. Despite the sincerity we have displayed (some would say naivety) and the legitimacy we bring to the government as a result of the overwhelming support we have from the people of this great country, Zanu PF has refused to acknowledge that their failed policies of the past have been soundly rejected by the masses and that process of change is irreversible.

Instead, they have continued to use the inclusive government to wage war against the MDC, our supporters and the people at large. Zanu PF continues to use the public media, the constitutional process, the commercial farms, the diamond mines and the civil service as the battlefields for its destructive agenda aimed at perpetuating their selfish grip on power.

Their determination to enrich themselves at the expense of national development risks keeping all our citizens mired in poverty. In addition, they have committed themselves to conducting an overt onslaught against the person, principles and agenda of the President of the MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai, to thwart his vision of delivering real change to the people of Zimbabwe.

Rather than blaming President Tsvangirai for imaginary wrongs, it is time that Zanu PF took responsibility for the dark decade of poverty and violence their policies unleashed on the innocent people of this nation. In the last four weeks, following the Zanu PF congress, we have seen an acceleration of destruction and insanity on the part of the former ruling party. We have seen an increase in the decibels of destabilisation and recklessness. This has been manifested in unlawful farm invasions, disobedience of lawful court orders, the above- referred vitriol against the President of the MDC and intransigence at the negotiating table.

It is clear as a pikestaff that Zanu PF is creating the conditions for the total breakdown of the inclusive government. It is clear to us that Zanu PF are making a case for the establishment of irreconcilable differences amongst the parties leading to a total breakdown of this relationship. Our message to Zanu PF is that we will not be baited by these nocturnal acts of self-destruction. However, we will also not allow ourselves or the people of Zimbabwe to be bullied or abused by a coterie of men and women who have never put Zimbabwe first.

This government was born out of hope, courage and the commitment of the people to peaceful, democratic change. It is clear that Zanu PF is trying to strangle this fledgling authority on its first birthday and if they continue their regressive policies they must be prepared to take full responsibility for the irretrievable breakdown of the inclusive government.

Zanu PF must however understand that there is a price to everything. The inevitable consequence of their homicidal actions would be the holding of free and fair elections under the protection and supervision of SADC to ensure that the dreams of the people are never again dashed nor denied.

The MDC is ready for this election.

Zanu PF cannot continue to have their cake and eat it. They cannot continue to be normative members of this government when in fact they are working against it at every turn. It is simple. Either they are in or they are out. If they are in, the onus is on them to cease their violations of the laws of Zimbabwe, start respecting our party President and implement the commitments they signed up to in the GPA. If they are out, then bring on the election.

Zimbabweans are tired of political bickering and their hope for 2010 is that all members of this government will have one common vision, that of rebuilding our economy, creating jobs, restoring food security and promoting the people's freedoms. Whatever choice they make, the process of change in Zimbabwe is irreversible and the MDC remains committed to standing by the people and by the ideals of the liberation struggle to deliver hope and real change to every Zimbabwean.

Together to the end, marching to a new Zimbabwe.

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