Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Harare (Agenzia Fides) – “In present circumstances a free and fair vote is impossible.” With these words, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, announced on June 22 that he would drop out of the second run-off of presidential elections in Zimbabwe, scheduled for June 27. The decision, which was announced earlier by a spokesman of the opposition party (see Fides 20/6/2008) several days ago, has been considered by international analysts to be a high-risk act on Tsvangirai’s part. Withdrawing from the elections, denouncing the violence and threats, means taking away every legitimacy in the reelection of the President Robert Mugabe, who would be left as the only candidate in false elections.
However, the opposition leader seems to have left a door open. In fact, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa affirmed that Tsvangirai has still not officially formalized his withdrawal with the central Electoral Commission. If this step is not taken, the Minister said, the elections would take place anyways. Mugabe told his supporters to continue forward in the electoral campaign, placing in question the announced withdrawal of Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai’s gesture seems to be aimed at, on the one hand, insisting that the international community place pressures on Mugabe, and on the other, obliging the regime to enter into debate with the opposition. South African President Thabo Mbeki is trying to reach a compromise between the regime and the opposition, with the hopes of creating a government of national unity, with plans to rescue the country from the worst crisis it has suffered in its history.
On an international level, the announcement of the candidate’s withdrawal has caused bitter criticism of Mugabe. “The withdrawal of the opposition’s candidate and the increase of violence in Zimbabwe as the date for the second run-off approaches, are a source of serious concern,” said the Chairperson of the Commission of the African Union, Jean Ping. The President of Zambia and Chairman of the South African Development Community (SADC), Levy Mwanawasa, expressed his support for the opposition leader, affirming that “the elections that take place in an environment of violence and threats – not only are they not democratic, but their are an embarrassment to the members of the SADC and the entire African continent.” (LM) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2008)
