×
NewsDay

AMH is an independent media house free from political ties or outside influence. We have four newspapers: The Zimbabwe Independent, a business weekly published every Friday, The Standard, a weekly published every Sunday, and Southern and NewsDay, our daily newspapers. Each has an online edition.

Let’s go for polls

Politics
President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday agreed to go for elections, saying the transitional inclusive government had outlived its purpose. In a sign confirming all is not well in the shaky coalition government, President Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara met in Harare in the aftermath of the violence that […]

President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday agreed to go for elections, saying the transitional inclusive government had outlived its purpose.

In a sign confirming all is not well in the shaky coalition government, President Mugabe, Tsvangirai and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara met in Harare in the aftermath of the violence that rocked Chitungwiza on Sunday and agreed elections were the best way forward.

Tsvangirai said there was tension in the country as evidenced by increasing violence. He said the inclusive government was malfunctioning with Zanu PF ministers refusing to report to him or attend the Council of Ministers meetings while some civil servants such as district administrators shunned him during his tour of districts to assess government work programmes.

“Two-and-a-half years would have been ideal in this transitional arrangement. Clearly, three to five years is no longer ideal. We will be discussing elections and hopefully we will agree on a date,” said Tsvangirai.

The Premier said although the environment was not yet conducive for elections given the spate of violence and that most of the items agreed in the election roadmap and the GPA were still outstanding, he hoped by the time the poll dates were announced more ground would have been covered.

President Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba said he could not comment on yesterday’s meeting.

“I do not cover that area at all. The President, Prime Minister and DPM meetings are not my area,” he said.

Turning to the Sunday violence, Tsvangirai blamed Youth minister Saviour Kasukuwere and former Deputy minister David Chapfika for mobilising the youths who disrupted his rally.

“I told the President that Kasukuwere and Chapfika were responsible for bringing the youths into Chitungwiza a night before the rally,” he said. The Premier said by the time he met President Mugabe, Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri had misled the President on what had transpired.

Tsvangirai said the principals had suggested the central committees and executive wings of the parties in the inclusive government would meet on Friday to find ways to end violence. He said Vice-President John Nkomo was expected to come up with a code of conduct to be followed by all parties.

Meanwhile, police last night said they had arrested two people in connection with the Chitungwiza violence.

“I can confirm that two arrests have been made and investigations are continuing,” police spokesperson Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka told NewsDay.

MDC-T immediately claimed those arrested were their members and accused police of victimising them, letting perpetrators go scot-free.