The Zimbabwe opposition leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, yesterday evaded police who planned to arrest him on treason charges and called for President Robert Mugabe to resign or hold early elections.
"Mugabe's term as president lasts until 2002, but he no longer has the mandate of the people or their support," said Mr Tsvangirai, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), shortly after his return to Zimbabwe from a visit South Africa. "He is no longer legitimate. He should go back to the people and seek an early election, or he should resign. Otherwise he risks a popular uprising against him."
Even as Mr Tsvangirai pressed Mr Mugabe, the government increased its pressure on the MDC. Earlier yesterday police arrested three MDC members of parliament on charges of inciting violence. There were angry outbursts against the arrests and police used teargas to disperse two gatherings of MDC supporters in central Harare. About 10 MDC supporters were arrested.
Police had expected Mr Tsvangirai to return to Zimbabwe on a scheduled flight from Johannesburg and waited for him at Harare International Airport. But he came by some other means, presumably a charter flight to a smaller airport. Upon arrival at his home, Mr Tsvangirai quickly spoke with MDC officials and journalists.
Within a few minutes, Mr Tsvangirai phoned the police and informed them he was at home and said they could come and arrest him there. By early evening the police had not come to pick him up. He was in high spirits after his successful evasion of security police at the airport.
Mr Mugabe's government has said it intends to arrest Mr Tsvangirai on treason because of remarks he made at the September 30th rally to mark the first anniversary of the founding of the MDC.
"We say to Mugabe, `Please go peacefully. If you don't, we will overthrow you violently'," Mr Tsvangirai said to a deafening roar of approval from more than 20,000 supporters at the rally. He quickly clarified his remarks, saying that he did not mean the MDC would use violence but that the people of Zimbabwe would rise up against continued rule by Mr Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party.
"I said something unpalatable to Mugabe and to Zanu-PF, but I don't think it was illegal," Mr Tsvangirai commented yesterday. "If the authorities think I have committed a crime then I must face the due legal procedures."
Mr Tsvangirai said the MDC was committed to the rule of law and change by peaceful, constitutional and democratic means. Mr Mugabe, he said, "should be happy that he has a credible opposition that can contain the anger of the people against his misrule".
He repeated his remarks that Mr Mugabe was "the Milosevic of Africa". Mr Mugabe, he said, had ruined the economy, involved Zimbabwe in the disastrous war in the Congo and had thwarted democracy by rigging the parliamentary elections.