The Morgan Tsvangirai-led faction of the Movement for Democratic Change says it is not an extension of United States foreign policy. Zimbabweans have to decide what is best for themselves.
This was said by party spokesman Obert Gutu in response to comments by Gregory Simpkins, a director in the United States House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organisations, who criticised the MDC-T’s “no reforms no elections” policy.
“We have heard that political parties here argue that it is tough to compete in elections. But we are saying they have to find a way of being effective rather than just saying it is too tough to compete. How can you criticize a process that you are not part of, one cannot criticize a process that they have not even taken time to test,” Simpkins was quoted by NewZimbabwe.Com as saying.
“When you test the process you can say we tried to register our candidates or observers were turned away; you can point to examples. If you are not a part of it at all then it is as good as there is no opposition."
In an interview with Newsday, Gutu responded: “We don’t think on behalf of the Americans. They are perfectly entitled to hold their own views. We are on the ground here in Zimbabwe and whatever decisions and resolutions that we take are fully and adequately informed by the prevailing local conditions and scenarios…..
“Whilst we fully respect the Americans for saying what they have said, at the end of the day the buck stops with us, as Zimbabweans, to decide what is good for our beloved country going forward.”
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