The broad mandate of the NTA will be to steer the country on a path towards the return to legitimacy through truly free, fair and credible elections whose outcome is not disputed.
Details of the transitional mechanisms including the composition, structure, form, relationship to the State executive, establishment processes, signposts and roadmap to elections will be negotiated with other stakeholders whom I will engage soon on these proposals.. What is important for now is the consideration of the principle of the NTA as a starting point for the country’s return to legitimacy and economic and political recovery.
The country is at a precipice and what is now required is leadership but it is apparent that there is leadership vacuum at national level. As the MDC, we are tabling this as an important starting point for the nation that we love. I am giving President Mugabe an opportunity to soft land the national crisis. He will have only have himself to blame if citizens take matters in their own hands. The ball in his court. I urge SADC and the AU to provide wise counsel to him. The ball is now in his court.
In line with the directive given to me by the National Council yesterday, I have now appointed Hon. Nelson Chamisa and Hon Elias Mudzuri as Vice Presidents of the party. The two will join Hon. Thokozani Khupe in assisting me in the execution of my responsibilities and preparing the party for the next election.
Lastly, we as a party are heartened by the convergence on action as a legitimate and constitutional pressure point on this regime. We in the MDC had seen this coming. On the 18th of August 2014, I wrote the first of my two letters to all SADC Heads of State in which I warned the region that the citizens of this country would soon be taking matters in their own hands in bringing this regime to account. The recent legitimate protests by Zimbabweans vindicate my communication to the region.
However, beyond protests and demonstrations, there is need for leadership and the sculpting of a coherent, durable plan which we hereby lay on the table as a party. We have no other country except Zimbabwe. We urge all Zimbabweans to rally together in demanding a better deal for us as citizens than our current sorry plight
I Thank You.
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