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East/Subsaharan Africa
Tsvangirai Will Continue to Press Mugabe
2003-06-21
HARARE - Zim-Bob-We's opposition leader dismissed his two weeks in jail on treason charges as an ``occupational hazard'' Saturday and said he will not stop putting pressure on President Robert Mugabe. Morgan Tsvangirai, 51, was released on bail Friday with a warning from a judge not to say anything that would violate laws against advocating Mugabe's overthrow.
"Thanks your Honor, and can you point me to the nearest demonstration?"
Tsvangirai, the head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, was arrested June 6 following a week of anti-government strikes that further undermined an already feeble economy. He is accused of calling on supporters to oust Mugabe and inciting them to violence. If convicted he could face a death sentence. On Saturday, he denied that he called for Mugabe's overthrow and said he would continue his political work. ``An old coot man of 79 is holding the country to ransom to stay in power. It is a sad indictment on him when the country is on its knees,'' Tsvangirai told reporters at his home in suburban Harare. He described his two weeks in jail, much of it in a dirty cell with 75 other prisoners facing murder and rape charges, as ``an occupational hazard.''
Yeah, well promise you won't do the same thing when Bob kicks it and you're in charge...
``They can continue to punish us and arrest us. My message is: We will not retreat. If they think we will capitulate, they are living in Cuba a dream,'' he said. While this month's strikes and protests paralyzed much of the country, planned street marches were prevented by a massive show of force by police, troops and ruling party boys with guns militia backed by armored cars, water cannons and helicopters. Tsvangirai said he and his supporters would continue to exert ``as much pressure as we can'' to force the ruling party, ZANU PF, to negotiate. ``We have stated all along that we will use constitutional and peaceful means to put pressure on ZANU PF to come to the table,'' he said. ``Mass action is not being abandoned.''
"We'll be back!"
Tsvangirai is due back in court on July 10 to face the new treason charges. He and two senior opposition officials are already on trial for treason for allegedly plotting to assassinate Mugabe two years ago. The three politicians, who deny the charges, say they were framed by the government to weaken their party. Tsvangirai described conditions in the main Harare prison as ``scandalous'' but said he was not mistreated.
I imagine it was like Nelson Mandela in prison — no one would dare lay a hand on him.
To get out of jail Friday, Tsvangirai had to pay a cash bail of 10 million Zimbabwe dollars - about $12,000 - which his wife delivered in four cardboard boxes. He also had to hand over property deeds or rights to other assets worth $120,000.
If he'd had waited a week, his wife would have needed a tractor-trailer to deliver the cash.
The opposition launched a campaign Saturday for donations to replenish party coffers and repay loans used to pay the bail.
Posted by:Steve White

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