FORMER Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai says he is the panacea to the country’s deepening economic crisis. TATENDA CHITAGU OWN Correspondent
Addressing hundreds of villagers and MDC-T supporters in Masema, Gutu East, at the memorial service of Job Sikhala’s father on Friday, Tsvangirai said the current sociopolitical and economic crisis could 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 accept that we are in the same boat,” said Tsvangirai. “Zanu PF and MDC-T are in the same predicament of poverty. We need tolerance for the country to go ahead.”
The MDC-T leader said the solutionto the country’s problem 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 resulting in a significant stabilisation of the national economy.
He said Mugabe should just approach him to find the solution.
“And when he comes, I will tell that old man to go rest and leave me to address the national crisis,” he said amid laughter.
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However, Zanu PF has on several occasions castigated Tsvangirai as a spent force seeking relevance.
Tsvangirai said Zanu PF had failed to give Zimbabweans a 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,” he said.
“But we are saying no to politics of confrontation. We want to solve the problems bedevilling the country.”
While admitting that his party was in turmoil after the recent expulsion of party deputy treasurer-general Elton Mangoma, Last Maengehama and Promise Mkhwananzi on allegations of insubordination after calling for him to step down as party president, Tsvangirai said their problems were better than those of Zanu PF which is “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.
