Detective Moses probes the mysterious circumstances of Tsvangirai's absence
It was a farce in Swaziland. Everyone from the Southern African Development Community, from Mugabe's Zanu-PF, even the local King himself, King Mswati, was there for the talks on power sharing in Zimbabwe. But, like the elephant in the room, Morgan Tsvangirai, Prime Minister-in-waiting of our country and leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), wasn't.
This made the whole thing pointless, and everyone went home. The MDC claimed that Tsvangirai was not provided with either a valid passport or travel documents, and therefore could not leave Zimbabwe. (He apparently spent the day playing golf, but...)
Was that the real reason why he didn't make the trip? Did Mugabe really deprive him of the legal means to travel - thus earning our ageing President the criticism and contempt of observers throughout the region, and indeed the world? I believe there may be more to this story than first meets the eye.
Zanu-PF's deputy information officer Bright Matonga had already maintained that the story wasn't true, claiming that Tsvangirai was indeed given a travel document which would have enabled him to travel to Swaziland.
Yesterday Registrar-General Tobaiwa Mudede, the gentleman in charge of this sort of thing, waded into the argument, and seemed to confirm that the MDC leader was issued with the necessary papers.
He said that on Sunday he was informed by the Office of the President of an urgent need to prepare and issue a travel document which would give Tsvangirai the right to attend the conference. He set to work to do so. He even called in his two "issuance officers" - Ms Mudyiwa and Mrs. Mugwabi - to help him, although why it took three people to prepare one document is not clear.
Tsvangirai did not appear in person to claim his document, Mudede maintained. The man himself was apparently in Masvingo, nearly 300 kilometres away. Instead he was represented by one Elton Mangoma.
Sometime mid-afternoon on Sunday Mangoma arrived to collect Tsvangirai's travel document, said Mudede. The number of the document was 000 00960. Mr. Mangoma did not have sufficient funds to pay for the processing of the document, so the Registrar-General agreed to accept his personal cheque for the amount. The cheque number was, I am informed, 000036.
All this raises interesting questions, such as - Is the Registrar-General lying through his teeth? Or - did Tsvangirai get the OK to travel to Swaziland, but prefer to spend the time working on his golf swing?
I think we ought to know. After all, if there is to be a "new Zimbabwe" then we have to be able to believe our leaders. Whoever they may turn out to be.
Moses.
Your missing the whole point of the MDC refusing to take part in the Swazi "stitch-up".
AS the future Prime minister, he shouldn't have to plead for a passport.. He shouldn't have to beg for temporary travel documents.
It is a symptom of the behavior and arrogance of the ruling party.
Posted by: Fish Eagle | Tuesday, 21 October 2008 at 11:06
I quite agree with Fish Eagle. Why anybody in Tsvangarai's position is having to scrabble around with a tatty piece of A4 which supposedly passes for a 'travel document' is beyond comprehension. zanu confiscated his passport long ago and continue to connive to prevent him from getting a new full passport. It's this kind of underhanded approach by the Desperate Despot and his cronies which needs to be addressed!
Posted by: Dino | Tuesday, 21 October 2008 at 11:44
Moses, you seem to be missing the point. Fish Eagle seems to get the point though I would say Tvangirai as a citizen of of never mind a prime minister designate has a right to have a passport. Zanu PF is behaving like ka mwana kadiki or musikana arambwa! It only shows kuti they are not sincere about these talks and some of us have long urged the MDC to abandon these negotiations and get out of the country and form a gorvenment in exile which I am 100% sure will be recognisewd by the whole world!
Posted by: Bona Ndini | Tuesday, 21 October 2008 at 15:58
Point well stated and well taken, Fish Eagle, Dino, and Bona Ndini.
Moses?
Posted by: macon | Tuesday, 21 October 2008 at 16:32
@Bona Ndini.
Something you might bear in mind.....Don't you think that your suggestion that MT form a "Government in Exile" hasn't been the driver behind the refusal to issue MT's Passport.
They are terrified that once he has his official passport documents, he will be able to do just that.
Just a thought. !!!!!!
Posted by: Fish Eagle | Tuesday, 21 October 2008 at 17:06
There's a world of difference between a passport and a "travel document".
Posted by: Roger | Wednesday, 22 October 2008 at 08:24
The passport - and a full-blown diplomatic one at that - is a symbol of Good Faith.
It appears that ZanuPF have none.
Posted by: Castor | Wednesday, 22 October 2008 at 11:46
to Moses and Bona Ndini: what I think or do, I think someone else is capable to do...
Posted by: claudia | Wednesday, 22 October 2008 at 14:40
Zanu-pf neMuroyi azvina kusiyana-ba. Zanu-pf must not worst our time telling us of freedom. There is no excuse for Muroyi anouraya mwana wake neanouraya wepa next door. Zanu-pf is just bad, they are a bad news.
Dont expect them to issue Tsvangirai with a passport. We want them to pay the Teachers the icons of a brighter future for our country.
Posted by: joyce | Wednesday, 22 October 2008 at 17:38