Stories

Police on 23 January 2008 dragged Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai from his home at 4am and questioned him for several hours about the planned “Freedom March” meant to protest the holding of elections in March without free and fair conditions.

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Former army commander Solomon Mujuru and other business people were beginning to suffer in Zimbabwe’s parlous business environment and were convinced that they could only thrive economically if there was a change in leadership, Mujuru’s business partner and political advisor Tirivanhu Mudariki told United States embassy officials.

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One of the two negotiators for the Tsvangirai faction of the Movement for Democratic Change, Elton Mangoma, said South African President Thabo Mbeki and other leaders of the Southern African Development Community were piling pressure on MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai because he was considered to be more malleable than President Robert Mugabe.

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The two factions of the Movement for Democratic Change agreed on 19-20 January 2008 to form an electoral pact and to support Morgan Tsvangirai as their joint presidential candidate.

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United States ambassador to Zimbabwe James McGee refused to buy Movement for Democratic Change spin that a march in the capital had attracted more than 30 000 people, saying instead it had only attracted hundreds.

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Trevor Ncube, who was one of the major drivers for a United Front to contest the 2008 elections, said he had no faith in Morgan Tsvangirai’s ability to lead the country and criticised the Movement for Democratic Change as a “tired and contaminated brand”.

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Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai held a series of rallies in January 2008 in preparation for a “Freedom March” meant to put pressure on President Robert Mugabe to postpone the March 2008 elections to implement a new constitution first.

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History could be repeating itself. President Robert Mugabe rejected three proposals that had been made by South African President Thabo Mbeki and insisted that the 2008 elections would be held in March under the existing constitution.

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Former banker, James Mushore, who was said to be a nephew of General Solomon Mujuru and Vice-President Joice Mujuru, told United States embassy officials that both Mujurus were solidly behind former Finance Minister Simba Makoni’s candidacy in the 2008 presidential elections.

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The treasurer of the Tsvangirai faction of the Movement for Democratic Change, Roy Bennett, told United States embassy officials in Pretoria that 10 Members of Parliament from the Mutambara faction were ready to defect to the Tsvangirai faction just two months before the 2008 elections.

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