The Morgan Tsvangirai Wikileaks cables-Part Thirty-Four

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai was already frustrated by President Robert Mugabe and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic seven months after the formation of the inclusive government.

He described Mugabe as a tyrant who had ignored democratic principles and become isolationist because of his belief that the West had shunned him due to his land reform programme.

Tsvangirai told a visiting United States congressional delegation in front of a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official that Mugabe had turned against his people and his actions were indefensible.

He said Mugabe wanted to be remembered as a liberation hero but he knew his own record.

He was so frustrated that he hoped that elections could be held within the two-year transition period saying two years was a long time.

His colleague Arthur Mutambara was, however, more realistic saying inclusive government needed more time to generate progress, reduce tensions, and build institutions.  

Mutambara suggested, together with several Members of Parliament from both sides and diplomats, that elections should not take place until 2013.

Tsvangirai described himself like a vulture which had its prey in sight but had to be patient.

The elections were, however, not held during the two-year period but were held in 2013 as Mutambara and most legislators had said, though they were accused of having selfish interests as they wanted their term to expire instead of being kicked out only three years after being elected  as had happened to previous legislators when the country adopted the harmonized election system in 2008.

Tsvangirai who had said he had his prey in sight was thoroughly defeated in the 2013 elections but claimed that Mugabe and his ZANU-PF stole the elections.

Below are the first 680 Wikileaks cables in Tsvangirai, only 46more to go.

Coming next, the Grace Mugabe Wikileaks cables.

Continued next page

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