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Assassination plot delays Zimbabwe opposition leader's return from Belfast
Saturday, May 17, 2008
By Gary Fennelly
Zimbabwe's opposition leader, who was visiting Belfast yesterday, has
delayed his return home after a plot to assassinate him was uncovered.
Morgan Tsvangirai had been attending the Liberal International Congress in
Belfast yesterday and was due to fly home today.
He had been
expected back in Harare today to begin campaigning ahead of a run-off second
round ballot against Robert Mugabe scheduled for June 27.
However fears for his security have now delayed that return.
"We received information from a credible source this morning
concerning a planned assassination attempt on president Tsvangirai,"
said Tsvangirai's spokesman George Sibotshiwe.
He said Tsvangirai had postponed his return indefinitely while party
officials consulted their security experts.
"We are still trying to work on it. We are trying to sort out security
arrangements for his return."
Details of the plot are thought to have been leaked to members of
Tsvangirai's party the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). It is believed
Tsvangirai would be attacked en route from the airport shortly after he
lands and leaves Harare International Airport.
Morgan Tsvangirai was in Belfast yesterday for the 55th Congress of the
Liberal International umbrella group, organised by Northern Ireland's
Alliance Party.
Alliance party leader, David Ford, said today: "I hope that Mr
Tsvangirai can return home safely and wish him well.
"I very much look forward to the day when he becomes President."
At yesterday's conference Mr Tsvangirai said: "Mugabe lost that first
round, 57 percent of the people who cast their vote did not vote for him.
"I am so confident that in spite of the violence, come the second
round they will reconfirm that rejection."
Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change won the first round elections
on March 29, but with not enough votes to avoid a run-off.
Mugabe has reportedly refused to guarantee Tsvangirai’s safety in a meeting
with Mbeki on Friday.
In March 2007 a day after his 55th birthday, Tsvangirai was arrested and
tortured by a commando unit in Harare.
A witness said at the time: "Using sjamboks, army belts and gun butts,
the soldiers attacked Tsvangirai until he passed out.
"One of the soldiers poured cold water all over Tsvangirai to
resuscitate him. Tsvangirai regained consciousness again at around 1.30a.m.
"One vicious woman was left to work on him. She removed an army belt
from her waist and used it to assault Tsvangirai until he passed out again."
Mr Tsvangirai has been abroad since the result because of threats to his
life. His current location is unknown.
The US State Department has urged Zimbabwe take steps to ensure the run-off
election is a free vote.
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