(Last Updated on August 19, 2013 by Editor)
Harare — MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he is not finished, vowing to use other political means to invalidate the July 31 elections.
This followed his withdrawal of the Constitutional Court petition challenging President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF’s resounding win which he attributed to massive rigging.
Tsvangirai surprised many when he withdrew his ConCourt poll petition on Friday night, citing the non-availability of crucial vote material which formed the basis of his court challenge.
But Tsvangirai yesterday said all was not over despite the withdrawal of the petition as the MDC-T would now take the fight to reverse the electoral outcome to the political and diplomatic arenas.
“Many of you have been made to believe that this marks the end of the road for us, that by withdrawing the court case, we have conceded defeat,” Tsvangirai posted on his Facebook page yesterday.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. The struggle has not ended. It is just starting. We have never closed our avenue to continue with the political struggle. This is a political crisis and it requires a political solution.”
Tsvangirai said he still enjoyed the mandate of his party as well as the support of “millions of people who voted for change” on July 31.
“Using that mandate, I will continue serving the people until we achieve the desired results,” he said.
Tsvangirai said Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku had narrowed down the petition to one based on affidavits, yet he wanted to call witnesses to lead evidence on how the elections had been rigged.
“Because of those two roadblocks placed our way, it was futile to proceed with the case,” he said. “It became very clear to us that this case was being predetermined.”
MDC-T spokesman, Douglas Mwonzora said the party had no option but to take the fight to the political and diplomatic arena, as the legal route would have caused “injustices”.
He said the “political struggle” would involve peaceful and democratic means.
“We will apply political pressures guaranteed and protected in the constitution,” said the MDC-T spokesperson.