Zimbabwejournalists.com: Mutambara speaks on Tsvangirai's passport


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Opinion / Analysis

Mutambara speaks on Tsvangirai's passport

print article	First published: 20th Oct 2008 17:08 GMT
Mutambara speaks on Tsvangirai's passport
By Arthur Mutambara I have just been advised that Morgan Tsvangirai will not be attending the meeting of the SADC Troika because he has not been issued with a passport. If this report is true I wish to make the following statement. In terms of the agreement reached on the 15 September 2008 Morgan Tsvangirai is to become Prime Minister of Zimbabwe. For the past two months Morgan Tsvangirai has been denied a passport. In the context of the agreement what sort of goodwill is that? I have raised this matter with President Mbeki and Mugabe. We should never allow trivial matters such as this to affect the national interest. SADC has an opportunity to help Zimbabweans solve their national crisis by standing up to Mugabe's unacceptable behaviour in this regard. In light of the report I have received this morning I have demanded through President Mbeki that the Troika meeting be canceled. There can be no discussion of any value without Morgan Tsvangirai's presence. In the past few weeks I have ended up being a mediator-trying to do what I can to ensure that a credible deal be arrived at, specifically by ensuring that the MDC T obtains control of the Finance and Home Affairs Ministries. The most important thing is that we should all have a common vision for Zimbabwe. Pragmatism and flexibility should force the three leaders to come up with an acceptable agreement. I stress that there needs to be a tripartite agreement. As a political party we are not beholden either to Morgan Tsvangirai or Robert Mugabe - we are beholden to the suffering masses of Zimbabwe. Just as we are opposed to any unilateral decision by Robert Mugabe so we will also oppose any activity by Morgan Tsvangirai to hold the nation to ransom. There is absolutely no alternative to the tripartite agreement which must be concluded urgently. If Robert Mugabe goes ahead unilaterally to form a government, the party that I lead will have no part of it. If Robert Mugabe unilaterally forms a government we will denounce and call for the global isolation of any such criminal and illegitimate government. Professor Arthur Mutambara Johannesburg Airport