Matabeleland Liberation Front leader Paul Siwela, has tipped President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF to prevail over Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party by “hook or crook” in the next election.
Report by Njabulo Ncube
Siwela, who is advocating for the secession of Matabeleland, told NewsDay in an exclusive interview yesterday that Mugabe was going for broke and as such would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that he and Zanu PF won the pending elections.
“Zimbabwe will have its elections sometime, be it June, July or October, but the political indexes on the ground indicate that President Mugabe and his Zanu PF shall retain power by hook or crook,” Siwela, who is facing treason charges, said.
“This retention of power, by whatever means, shall this time around be recognised not only by Sadc and the AU, but also by the hitherto hostile Western governments.” Siwela said Zanu PF will register an outright victory, spelling the demise of the two MDC formations.
“Because of that recognition (by Sadc, AU and the western governments) it means there won’t be any coalition government and naturally this would lead to the demise of these other parties that went into bed with Mugabe and Zanu PF in the present so-called government of nation unity,” he predicted.
The 2002 presidential election candidate said Tsvangirai and the other MDC formation had made a fatal error by agreeing to join Mugabe in a coalition government.
“Going into power-sharing pact with Mugabe was a terrible mistake if not a great betrayal particularly to the people of Matabeleland,” he charged.
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“Zanu PF has remained a guerrilla movement and by and large has failed to transform itself into a democratic institution that would accept security and media reforms let alone accept an outcome of a contested poll, which is unfavourable to them.” He said it was not surprising that the military top brass were dabbling in politics and publicly campaigning for Mugabe and Zanu PF.
“There is little wonder why the military continues to side with Zanu PF because it sees itself as an extension of Zanu PF,” he said.
“Tsvangirai and company should have dealt with security sector reforms on the very day they signed the GPA. It is foolish for them to cry foul now on the eve of an election.
“I am not sympathising with them at all. In politics you go for the gold medal. “There is no silver neither is there a bronze medal in this game. Tsvangirai has been tricked and unfortunately, it has cost him dearly.”
Siwela said it was too late for the MDCs to demand reforms now “yet they have been drinking tea with Mugabe for the past five years”.
The MLF leader, together with Charles Thomas, and John Gazi, are accused of plotting to topple Mugabe after they allegedly distributed fliers calling for the secession of Matabeleland. The trio is out on $2 000 bail and is waiting for the High Court to decide on their plea to have the case dismissed.
Read a detailed exclusive interview with Siwela in tomorrow’s edition.
