GUTU — Former Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai last week said he was the panacea to the country’s deepening economic crisis.
BY TATENDA CHITAGU
Addressing hundreds of villagers and party supporters in Masema, Gutu East, at the memorial service of Job Sikhala’s father on Friday, Tsvangirai said the current socio-political, and economic crisis could also thaw if President Robert Mugabe resigned or looked for him for dialogue.
He vowed that he would not initiate the engagement with the 90-year-old leader, who has been ruling since the country’s independence in 1980.
“The country is on its knees and the solution only comes when Zanu PF and the MDC-T accepts that we are in the same boat,” Tsvangirai said.
“Zanu PF and MDC-T are in the same predicament of poverty. We need tolerance for the country to go ahead,” he said.
The MDC-T leader said the solution to the country’s problems could only be addressed if the two parties work together.
In 2008, Zanu PF and the two MDC formations formed a government of national unity (GNU) resulting in a significant stabilisation of the national economy.
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He said Mugabe should just approach him to find the solution.
“And when he comes, I will tell him that old man, ‘rest and leave me to address the national crisis,’” he said amid laughter.
However, Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo has on several occasions castigated Tsvangirai as a spent politician seeking relevance.
Tsvangirai said Zanu PF had failed to give Zimbabweans the chance to vote freely in fair and credible elections since he entered the political fray.
“You (Mugabe) have failed to give the people of Zimbabwe a chance to vote well,” the former premier said.
“But we are saying no to politics of confrontation. We want to solve the problems bedevilling the country.”
He admitted that his party was in turmoil after the recent expulsion of party deputy tresurer-general Elton Mangoma, Last Maengehama and Promise Mukwananzi on allegations of insubordination after calling for him to cede his position as party president.
Tsvangirai, however, said their problems were better than those in Zanu PF which are “beyond redemption”.
He bemoaned political violence which has claimed several lives in Gutu and surrounding areas.
Sikhala’s father was once assaulted by Zanu PF youths at the family farm.
