Herald Reporters
THE MDC-T has threatened to unleash a wave of violence against Zanu-PF officials if it wins elections set for this year.
In an article published on his website and flighted by several Internet sites, MDC-T policy co-ordinator Mr Eddie Cross said his party would use violence and retribution against Zanu-PF if Mr Morgan Tsvangirai lands the presidency in the next election.

Mr Cross’ comments come in the wake of similar threats issued by MDC-T president Mr Tsvangirai, who is Prime Minister in the inclusive Government.
However, Zanu-PF yesterday dismissed the MDC-T threat saying there was nothing new in it as the party had a culture of violence.

Calling it “wishful thinking”, Zanu PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said the MDC-T has always been violent.

In the article titled “A warning to hardliners”, Mr Cross claimed the MDC-T is keeping a file of Zanu-PF officials the party accuses of committing human rights abuses.

Predicting victory for Mr Tsvangirai, Mr Cross said: “The presidential elections would take place under regional supervision and I have no doubt that Tsvangirai would be elected by a substantial majority.

“If the (Zanu-PF) hardliners manage to stop the completion of the constitutional reform process, then Tsvangirai would come to power with all the considerable powers of (President) Mugabe, carefully nurtured over the past three decades by the very people who would then find themselves at the mercy of an all powerful reformer.”

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Mr Cross claimed President Mugabe could die soon and Zanu-PF would be forced to choose another leader.
“In the past 10 days this has manifested itself in a series of Politburo meetings where tempers have flared and harsh words have been spoken.
“These hardliners need to be reminded that they face two possible scenarios, both of which would represent Armageddon as far as they are concerned and by their very actions they are increasing the chances of one of these materialising.

“The first would transpire if the President was to die in office. In those circumstances the two Houses of the National Assembly (Parliament) would sit as an electoral college and elect a president to serve the remainder of the President’s term of office.
“There is no doubt in my mind that only one candidate has any chance of being elected under those circumstances and it’s not Mnangagwa.

“Zanu-PF would have to nominate the potential candidates under the terms of the GPA and there is only one person that the Electoral College would elect.”
He said in a situation where Zanu-PF successfully moves its agenda in the constitution-making process, Zimbabweans would go for war.
“In either case there would be two immediate consequences.

“The first is that the people may well take matters into their own hands and take retribution against those who committed Gukurahundi, Murambatsvina and the general violations that have characterised the behaviour of the regime managed by these same hardliners.
“If that is not bad enough, the hardliners have to know that we in the MDC have kept detailed records of every violation of our rights and the abuse of the people.

“We have all the facts and evidence to press charges against several thousand thugs and worse and many of the most senior leaders responsible could face The Hague,’’ he said.

Zimbabwe, however, is not party to the Rome Statute that set up the International Criminal Court.
“The new president, backed by a large majority of the people, unencumbered by any agreements or restraints could take action against the men and women responsible for the mayhem that has gripped this country for decades.
“The corrupt would have their assets stripped from them and used to repair the damage they have done to the country.”

Mr Cross said Zanu-PF officials would have to leave Zimbabwe for their own safety.
“The new Government would be able, without restraints, to change the Constitution, reform our society and the civil service and make the security services totally accountable to the democratic structures of the country.

“Prosecutions would follow and believe me we have a lot of past injustice, corruption and abuse of power to deal with before we can really say that justice has been done and we can get on with our lives.

“In my view, the hardliners have only one real option open to them and this window is closing rapidly; that is to negotiate now for a second GNU, this time in the form of a cohesive and functional Government under democratic leadership in the form of a President elected in a fresh poll where Zanu-PF puts up a new candidate to lead the Party.

“It is the end of the road for them and they must now negotiate, while they have some influence and capacity, a dignified exit and retirement.”
This is not the first time Mr Cross has threatened violence against Zanu-PF officials after advocating the crashing and burning of the Zimbabwean economy to push for regime change.