Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has all but ruled out his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party will join a new Senate to be introduced under controversial government constitutional reforms.
Tsvangirai, who rejected state media reports that he was eyeing a seat in the Senate, said a bicameral parliament was not a priority among food- and fuel-short Zimbabweans.
”Talking about us taking part in an illegitimate process when it is known that we have been in the forefront of opposing the 17th Constitutional Amendments Bill [setting up the Senate] is crazy … How can we today say we are endorsing it and taking part in the Senate [elections]?”
President Robert Mugabe, who had in the past indicated that he wants the Senate in place by the end of the year, needs to sign the Bill, forced through Parliament by Zanu-PF, into law.
The MDC, which objected but was unable to block it, remains sharply divided over whether it should contest Senate elections. It would be pointless to participate in an election that will be rigged, some have argued, adding that it cannot now renege on its opposition to the setting up of the Senate.
Yet others are keen that the party contest because it is assured of winning the urban centres.
Tsvangirai said MDC members reportedly already jockeying to represent the party in the Senate poll were ”off the rails”. ”We were not formed to put people in Parliament or the Senate, but to resist Mugabe’s tyranny. I have been addressing rallies around the country … people are not talking about the senate but food and jobs.”
The opposition also dithered and delayed before contesting the disputed March 2005 election.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor Gideon Gono left for Washington on Wednesday to plead the country’s case against expulsion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The fund’s board meets on Friday.
Last week, Zimbabwe coughed up US$120 -million and is reported to have made a further $50 -million payment recently, leaving its IMF debt balance at $125- million. Central bank sources said Zimbabwe would lobby for continued membership and seek a six-month grace period to settle its remaining debt.