MDC says Mugabe “desperate”

The MDC published a statement at the weekend saying it believed Mugabe was desperate because his party faced a potential split among those advocating a tough line and those seeking a negotiated way out of the crisis.

“I have no doubt that what is happening in Zimbabwe today is the whirlwind of change. Whilst it is terrifying being in the middle of this whirlwind we need to remind ourselves that it will not last for ever and positive change will result” said David Coltart, the MDC legal affairs secretary. “I still anticipate that violence and abuse of human rights will continue and possibly even increase as ZANU-PF becomes increasingly desperate. After all ZANU-PF has nothing else to offer the electorate and if it gives up on its violent campaign it will most certainly lose the election by a wide margin. Mugabe knows this very well and for this reason will keep intimidating the electorate right up to the time of the election.”