BULAWAYO – THE main faction of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has said it will boycott elections scheduled for next year if Zanu PF wages a campaign of violence and intimidation against its supporters.
Addressing party supporters at Beit Hall in Luveve in Bulawayo on Friday, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said although the MDC-T was ready for elections, it would not take part in a violent election.
“We want elections next year to end this unhappy marriage with Zanu PF,” said Tsvangirai. “The MDC is ready for the elections but as a party, we will not participate in any election if there are incidences of violence and intimidation against out supporters.”
The MDC leader, who was accompanied by senior party officials, is holding consultative meetings with party supporters countrywide ahead of planned polls next year.
In 2008, Tsvangirai boycotted a presidential run-off poll against President Robert Mugabe citing intimidation and violence that resulted in the death of over 200 MDC supporters and displaced hundreds others.
Mugabe has reiterated that the country will hold elections mid next year with or without a new constitution to end the shaky coalition government born out of the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
Tsvangirai also dismissed the ongoing constitution making process as a farce and described it is a transitional document which will be reversed by an MDC government once elected into power.
He however pointed out that the current ongoing process to draft a transitional document was necessary to lay foundations for the holding of violence-free elections.
“We are participating in this constitutional making process because we are in the GPA. The constitution that is going to come out from this process is only transitional document to facilitate the holding of violent free elections,” he said’
“…once the MDC is in power and not sharing power with Zane PF, a new constitution will be drafted because this ongoing constitution making process is a sham.”
The constitution making process was marred by violence, financial and other logistical problems. Zanu PF supporters were accused of coercing people to espouse the party’s views.
The MDC leader also revealed that he now does not see eye-to-eye with Mugabe during weekly cabinet meetings over his continued violation of the GPA.

By The Standard