- Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), in an exclusive interview after his treason acquittal says he is now optimistic on restoring democracy in the country. The treason trial had traumatised him, his wife and children, the MDC leader further revealed.
Movement for Democratic Change President, Morgan Tsvangirai, says his acquittal from treason charges means the MDC party can now forge ahead with its drive for a free and democratic Zimbabwe.
He was speaking in an exclusive interview with independent Zimbabwean weekly 'The Standard' at his Strathaven house in Harare. The High Court acquitted Mr Tsvangirai of charges arising from an alleged plot to kill President Robert Mugabe before the 2002 presidential election. The MDC leader had faced a death sentence if convicted.
Mr Tsvangirai said campaigning and the strengthening of MDC political structures around the country would now move a gear up ahead of the March 2005 general elections. The opposition party however still threatens to boycott the poll if Zimbabwe-accepted guidelines on democratic elections by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are not implemented.
- We are very clear on the way forward, Mr Tsvangirai told 'The Standard'. "Our detractors had written us off as the MDC but the outcome of the treason case has made us blossom. Our spirits have been lifted. We can now mobilise the people of Zimbabwe and bring change to our beloved Zimbabwe through the March elections if the SADC Protocol on election guidelines are implemented by the Zimbabwean government," he said.
The MDC leader demonstrates optimism. "Democracy now has an opportunity to thrive in Zimbabwe. There is a lot of intolerance and hate speech in Zimbabwe and we need, as a nation, to rise above that and embrace each other as countrymen and women," he told 'The Standard'.
On the still pending, second treason trial against him, in which he is alleged to have called for the ouster of President Mugabe during the "Final Push", Mr Tsvangirai said: "In light of these developments [last week's acquittal], it would be an injustice to waste tax payers' money in pursuit of a political motive."
While the interview was taking place, an impromptu party started as a stream of friends, relatives, party members celebrated his acquittal and release.
Mr Tsvangirai's wife, Susan, was over the moon over her husband's acquittal. "We have been having weekly prayer meetings since 2002 with members of the party, and several women and we were convinced that God would be on the side of justice," said Susan, a devout Methodist.
Mr Tsvangirai said while the treason trial had traumatised him, he had not allowed it to dominate his life. "My children were the most affected. After the verdict, one of them who is at a university outside the country broke down in tears after hearing that I had been acquitted. Of course, it was a difficult period as the state media had all but found me guilty before the trial even began."
After Mr Tsvangirai was acquitted, jubilant members of the opposition started celebrating in central Harare and as the celebrations started spreading, police moved in and fired tear-gas to disperse the crowds. The controversial water cannons bought from Israel were deployed outside the MDC offices at Harvest House in a show of might.
MDC Secretary-General, Professor Welshman Ncube, said it was a momentous time for the party as it cleared the dark cloud that had been hovering above the party's activities. "This has given us some space to push for our goals. You can imagine the chaos and confusion that might have erupted in the country if Tsvangirai had been convicted," Mr Ncube said.
- I was an accused person together with Tsvangirai for two years and I know the trauma that is associated with this, Mr Ncube added. "This had been a war of the people of Zimbabwe as we fight for our democratic freedoms," he said.
Sternford Moyo, a Zimbabwean legal expert, said there was never going to be a better and more unbiased judgment than the one handed down on Friday. "The analysis of the evidence that was before the court by the judge president was sound. Moreover the conclusion is the only conclusion that any reasonable court could have reached ," Mr Moyo said.
Innocent Chagonda, Mr Tsvangirai's lawyer, commented: "It was also good for Morgan that he was put to his defence because his side of the story was heard. A lot of allegations had been made and in some circles they had already convicted him.
- The judgment came actually as a surprise for me but nonetheless it was a good, professional and well reasoned judgment, Mr Chagonda added. "This is a clear indication that the judge refused to be intimidated and I hope all our judicial officers should learn from this," the lawyer, who has also defended Nelson Mandela, told 'The Standard'.
Lovemore Madhuku, a constitutional lawyer and the chairman of Zimbabwe's National Constitution Assembly, said it was not necessary in the first place to have Mr Tsvangirai on trial. "It was never necessary or justified to put Tsvangirai on trial. The judgment does not show that the judiciary is independent at all. The acquittal was meant to send a false message of the presence of the rule of law and it was a convenient decision on their part," Mr Madhuku said.
Veteran politician Edgar Tekere said: "I am very happy for him [Mr Tsvangirai], and I wish him well in his political career. Politically it could not have been good for us as a nation if Tsvangirai had been found guilty," Mr Tekere said.
Meanwhile, Mr Tsvangirai is expected to launch a multi billion dollar lawsuit against people who made "reckless comments" regarding the alleged assassination plot during the past two and half years.
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