Tsvangirai seeks unity with Zanu-PF

“Let us seek out those peaceful members of Zanu-PF whose eyes are open to the disastrous state of our nation. Let us listen to their views.

 

“Let us invite them where we have policy agreements,” he said in Harare, the capital.

 

Tsvangirai is trying to rally support across party lines as he prepares to face Mugabe in a June 27 presidential run-off election.

 

However, Patrick Chinamasa, the Zimbabwean justice minister, said the two parties pursued conflicting ideologies.

 

Land reforms

 

He said that an MDC government would try to reverse land reforms that forcibly redistributed white-owned farms among blacks.

 

“Our political platform in Zanu-PF is diametrically opposite to the political platform of the MDC,” Chinamasa said at a news conference in South Africa.

“The political platform of the opposition is to reverse the gains of the revolution to restore white occupation of our land. It’s a political platform that will destabilise the country.

 

“I think that discussion on the government of national unity, or whatever you want to call it, is prematurely being raised,” Chinamasa said.

 

‘Violent hawks’

 

Chinamasa also said a ruling party analysis showed that 600,000 of its supporters did not vote on March 29 due to complacency, undermining Zanu-PF’s tally.

 

Tsvangirai has previously raised the idea of working with Zanu-PF [AFP]

Tsvangirai has previously raised the idea of working with Zanu-PF in a future government.

 

However, he has said that there would be no co-operation with the “violent hawks” in the ruling party.

 

He also said that there would be no amnesty from prosecution for those who continued to engage in political violence.

 

The MDC says that since March more than 50 people have been killed by elements of Zanu-PF in election-related attacks.

 

Mugabe’s officials say MDC supporters are responsible.

 

“We want to warn the MDC they should stop immediately this barbaric campaign of theirs,” Mugabe said on Thursday.

 

The opposition and human rights groups have accused Mugabe and his officials of trying to intimidate opponents ahead of the vote.

 

Both Mugabe and Tsvangirai say they are confident of victory.

 

Looking ahead to a post-election transition, Tsvangirai said his government will reform the civil service, judiciary and security forces but he pledged not to purge pro-Mugabe officials.

 

The MDC won a slim majority on the March 29 parliamentary elections, giving Zanu-PF its worst defeat since Mugabe has been in power.