The main faction of Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Thursday vowed to boycott presidential and legislative polls in March if the nation’s Constitution was not overhauled.
”It’s not only Morgan Tsvangirai or the MDC who are saying they will boycott the elections if certain conditions are not met,” William Bango, spokesperson for Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC main faction, said.
”It’s the people of Zimbabwe who are saying they have no confidence in the current conditions and will not partake in an activity whose result will not reflect a correct record of their voice,” he said.
He accused veteran President Robert Mugabe’s ruling Zanu-PF party of reneging on an agreement in ongoing talks with the opposition party to amend the Constitution to ensure what he called ”disputeless elections”.
”We agreed on a set of benchmarks regarding the elections, including the setting up of public institutions to inspire confidence in the electoral system.
”As far as we are concerned, nothing has changed since the last elections, which were flawed, and it is not possible to set up the institutions, recruit staff and have elections in 100 days.”
Among other demands, the opposition wants a new electoral commission that would conduct the March joint presidential and parliamentary polls.
Mugabe has said that elections will be held in March and that the opposition would only have themselves to blame if they do not adequately campaign.
Once a formidable force that posed the stiffest challenge to Mugabe’s stranglehold on power, the MDC was torn apart by factionalism following a row over senate elections in 2005.
The Arthur Mutambare faction of the MDC is yet to decide whether or not it would participate in the elections.
Mugabe (83), who has been in power since the nation gained independence in 1980, is seeking a sixth term of office. — Sapa-AFP