PRIME MINISTER of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai hardened his stance with President Robert Mugabe yesterday.
“You misjudge me at your peril,” he warned the president and said he would consult the public on whether the fraught unity government was still tenable.
His hard line came as the first European Union delegation to visit Zimbabwe since 2002 said that sanctions would not be lifted until the political rivals had resolved their differences.
Mr Tsvangirai, addressing a rally to mark the 10th anniversary of his party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), insisted that he would no longer tolerate violations of the powersharing agreement by Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party.
“I am not going to stand by while Zanu-PF continue to violate the law, persecute our members of parliament, spread the language of hate, invade our productive farms . . . ignore our international treaties,” the prime minister told thousands of supporters in Bulawayo. “I am not going to stand by and let this happen.”
In a tone that seemed to hover between defiance and exhaustion, Mr Tsvangirai said: “I have done my part to promote reconciliation in this country . . . I have compromised for the sake of Zimbabwe. But don’t misjudge me. You misjudge me at your peril.”
He added: “We want partners who are going to commit themselves to good governance principles. We cannot have partners of looters.”
The MDC joined a unity government in February in an attempt to end the political unrest that erupted after last year’s failed elections. But the party says its supporters still suffer political attacks.
Mr Tsvangirai, who has been criticised by some supporters for being too compliant, announced an initiative to consult the public on the future of the unity government during the next month. “We are coming to you. Is this government sustainable? It is you, the people, who shall give us direction.”
Mr Mugabe welcomed the EU delegation on Saturday with what he described as “open arms”. Zimbabwe is seeking billions in aid to rebuild its ruined economy.
The delegation flew out of Harare yesterday saying it would continue to give an average of €90 million a year in humanitarian assistance, along with a new injection of €7.5 million for an education sponsorship fund. But it said sanctions on Zimbabwean individuals and firms would not be lifted until the powersharing agreement had been fully implemented.
Speaking in Johannesburg yesterday, Gunilla Carlsson, Sweden’s international development minister said: “Much more needs to be done. It’s a mixed picture and this is only the start of a long journey. My first impression is that there is a basic agreement with Mugabe and Tsvangirai that the GPA [global political agreement] is the way to go and there is no alternative. There is common ground, but it’s a small island.”
Ms Carlsson highlighted agricultural production, the rule of law, conditions for foreign investment and the overall legal framework as ongoing obstacles to recovery. On the issue of sanctions, she said: “The key for re-engagement is the full implementation of the GPA . . . It needs to be seen how deep the will is.”
Sweden holds the EU’s rotating presidency.
Karel De Gucht, the EU commissioner for development and humanitarian aid, said Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai remained deeply divided. – ( Guardianservice)