Former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says he is not entertaining any talks on joining an “illegitimate” government.
Report by Staff Reporters
His comments come in the wake of speculation that President Robert Mugabe was courting the MDC-T leader and had offered him the Vice Presidency.
Mugabe is expected to announce his new Cabinet next week.
Writing on his Facebook page yesterday Tsvangirai said: “I am aware of reports circulating that I have been offered a post as Vice-President in a new Cabinet. Those reports are false. The fact is I am not talking to anyone about the possibility of joining a government which the majority of Zimbabweans consider as illegitimate,” said Tsvangirai.
He was reacting to reports quoting a top official of his party and some unnamed sources within the MDC-T claiming the former Premier had been approached with an offer for the VP post and other Cabinet positions.
Zanu PF secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa said he was not aware of the development, suggesting that the question be put to Mugabe and Tsvangirai.
Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba said on being asked by NewsDay: “I don’t want to talk about that matter please.”
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But MDC-T nationalyouth leader Solomon Madzore said: “Our president Tsvangirai has been approached by Zanu PF offering him the post of First Vice-President and some of our think-tanks have been approached with a view to offering them ministerial posts.
“We have said that is nonsensical and they (Zanu PF) should rule alone since they said they won the elections. We are not going to be part of them and it is unfortunate that they do not have a clue on how to run the economy,” he said.
Addressing party supporters at the Large City Hall in Bulawayo yesterday, Tsvangirai said his supporters should not listen to rumours that he had been offered a post. He also said the only way to restore government legitimacy was to call for fresh, free and fair polls.
“Mugabe’s legitimacy will not be endorsed by me or the MDC-T,” he said. “Until a new election is conducted and gives voice to the people, we will not rest.
“Mugabe can win an election, but can never win the legitimacy of the people. We did not lose elections although Zanu PF has a sense of triumph that is not victorious.”
He said he always knew Mugabe wanted a peaceful but rigged election and the confidence to face the people who rejected him in 2008.
“Ask yourselves, in your wildest dreams, where can Mugabe get two million votes in Zimbabwe? The vote was stolen two years ago,” he said.
“Even Mugabe was shocked by the level of rigging,” he said.
Tsvangirai said Mugabe’s recent statements disowning Bulawayo and Harare voters were signs that the Zanu PF leader made false promises in his campaigns.
“He knows he cannot deliver on his promises to restore industry in Bulawayo,” he charged.
“If you have won, then why are you insulting me? You should rule. How do you have service delivery without paying for it?”
Tsvangirai said the party would use its majority in councils to show their systems of government. He dismissed reports that he wanted to impose a mayor in Bulawayo, saying he would consult the structures, but insisted the party would support a strong candidate.
Meanwhile, the party’s organising secretary Nelson Chamisa told journalists in Gweru after the party’s provincial meeting yesterday that the MDC-T did not dream of the VP offer after it had been robbed of an election the party had won.
“There is nothing like that. You cannot rob me of my cattle and want to give me the same cattle,” Chamisa said. “In any case, we do not dream of such an offer from a party that robbed us of an election that we won.”
