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Zanu-PF 'preparing for war'
05/04/2008 16:00 - (SA)
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| Morgan Tsvangirai addresses a press conference in Harare. (AP |
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Harare - Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday that he was the clear winner over Robert Mugabe in the first round of a presidential election and there was no need for a run-off.
"The result is known, that the MDC won the presidential and parliamentary election. President Mugabe and Zanu-PF (the ruling party) should accept the results," Tsvangirai told reporters in his first declaration that he had won at the first attempt.
"The MDC won the election and will not accept the suppression of the will of the people," he said, referring to his party, the Movement for Democratic Change.
Tsvangirai accused Mugabe of deploying war veterans and pro-government militia and recruiting soldiers ahead of a presidential run-off vote.
He said Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF party was preparing a "war" against the people of Zimbabwe.
"Zanu-PF is preparing a war against the people of Zimbabwe such as we witnessed in 2000," he told reporters, in reference to violence which followed Mugabe's defeat in a referendum on presidential powers eight years ago.
Tsvangirai said he was already forming a new
government and called for talks with President Robert Mugabe,
who he called a "lame duck" leader.
"I want to say to President Robert Mugabe: 'Please rest your mind, the new Zimbabwe guarantees your safety'," Tsvangirai told the news conference.
Mugabe's regime has been accused of widespread human rights violations and Tsvangirai was assaulted by the security services last year while trying to stage an anti-government demonstration.
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