ZimWatch: How do you see the process leading up to the establishment of a transitional or new government?
Morgan Tsvangirai: The way forward involves two possible options. Either of these would follow the removal of the impediment or blockage, which is the illegal presidency of Mugabe.
Either there would have to be a ninety days period leading up to a presidential election, or there would need to be an extended period – with the necessary constitutional amendment being decided and approved by Parliament – so that the institutional arrangements for elections can be made. If such an extension is needed, a very clear process must be carried out to justify to the people why it is necessary to postpone elections.
So we need to put pressure on the government – through organised non-violent protest – to open the way for the negotiations that are necessary. We have to remove the impediment to negotiations: that is, the self-serving elite of ZANU that is clinging to power, that is holding the country to ransom.
Whichever process occurs – whether a Presidential election after ninety days, or an extended transition - it is going to be necessary immediately to begin to deal with the substantive issues of the crisis – the humanitarian crisis, the food and other shortages, and the ending of the violence, the intolerance and the coercion that is currently taking place.
As we see it, the problem with an extended transition is twofold: first, there are all the problems of working with the ZANU elite, which has shown itself to be very devious and untrustworthy; and second, there is the need to set up effective and legitimate governance as soon as possible. But we are prepared to dialogue and negotiate with people in other parties who enter into negotiations in good faith, who demonstrate that they are committed to a process which is in the interests of the people as a whole.
Complete interview Tsvangirai.PDF (23 Kb)
