SOUTH AFRICA: Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party says its campaigners are in danger

Record ID: 453275

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party says its campaigners are in danger
  • Date: 11th April 2008
  • Summary: (BN13) JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, (APRIL 10, 2008) (REUTERS) WIDE OF MDC SECRETARY GENERAL TENDAI BITI ADDRESSING THE NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (English) MDC SECRETARY-GENERAL TENDAI BITI SAYING: "We are pleased to not that there would be an extraordinary meeting of the SADC (Southern African Development Community) heads of states in Lusaka on Saturday, and we hope that the message from that meeting will be clear to President Robert Mugabe. It one message - that he must step down, he must concede and he must allow those that were given the mandate to govern by the people on the 29 of March to govern, and that the people's victory should not be derailed at all." MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA SEATED AND LISTENING BITI ADDRESSING THE MEDIA
  • Embargoed: 26th April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4PKA3QGB0T5TOML5PP0GA1FI0
  • Story Text: Claiming its supporters are in danger from President Robert Mugabe's forces, Zimbabwe's opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) rejects calls for a runoff.Zimbabwe's opposition accused President Robert Mugabe on Thursday (April 10) of carrying out a de facto coup to stay in power and said pro-democracy activists were in danger of their lives.
    Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai said Mugabe, who has held continuous power since independence in 1980, would be ousted with the help of other African nations.
    Tsvangirai spoke ahead of a regional summit in Lusaka next weekend to discuss fears of bloodshed in Zimbabwe because of a post election deadlock.
    Tsvangirai's MDC accuses Mugabe, 84, of prolonging a long delay in issuing the results of a March 29 presidential election while he plans a violent response to his biggest defeat since taking power after independence from Britain.
    MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti told a news conference in Johannesburg: "Quite clearly the situation at home is volatile. The lives of all pro-democracy actors are not safe".
    Biti denied reports that Tsvangirai, who has visited neighbouring South Africa to discuss the crisis, was seeking asylum abroad. He said he would advise him against returning home because of the dangers "but he is his own man".
    Tsvangirai's aides say he is hoping to attend the Lusaka summit.
    Zimbabean officials say Mugabe will go.
    Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said the ruling party was preparing for a runoff after its tallies showed neither Tsvangirai nor Mugabe won the required absolute majority.
    The MDC has rejected both a runoff and ZANU-PF attempts to have at least 14 seats recounted in the parliamentary vote. It says Tsvangirai has won and should immediately end Mugabe's 28-year rule.
    Tsvangirai said he would try to persuade the regional leaders to ask Mugabe to step down.
    SADC has been criticised in the past for failing to pressure Mugabe despite the economic collapse in Zimbabwe, now suffering the world's highest inflation, chronic shortages of food and fuel and a near worthless currency.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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