MDC takes its fight to the UN

CEDRIC MBOYISA

JOHANNESBURG - The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) will tomorrow brief the United Nations Security Council on the Zimbabwean crisis.

“We are going to inform the UN Security Council deliberations about the situation in Zimbabwe,” MDC spokesman Nqobizitha Mlilo told The Citizen.

The MDC delegation, which is led by secretary general Tendai Biti, will be seeking an urgent intervention in the form of a UN envoy with the backing of the South African Development Community (SADC).

“People are being butchered in Zimbabwe.

“We want the UN to help end the violence and the humanitarian crisis,” said Mlilo.

He also called on the South African government to clearly condemn the President Robert Mugabe regime.

“We hoping for South Africa to speak out. No matter how you interpret it there is crisis in Zimbabwe. Violence is the direct result of the March 29 elections,” added Mlilo.

He said the MDC would also urge the UN to impress it upon Mugabe to come to terms with reality – that he has lost the election.

The MDC has already claimed it has won the presidential election.

According to the opposition party, the results posted outside polling stations have given Tsvangirai 51.7% compared to Mugabe’s 43.3%.

The constitution stipulates that one of the competing presidential candidates must get at least 51% to be declared a winner.

The MDC has repeatedly said it would never take part in any presidential run-off election.

The Zanu-PF has been on record saying it was preparing for a run-off despite the fact that the outcome is yet to be made public after 29 days since the Zimbabweans went to the polls.

Before jetting off to New York yesterday, Biti reiterated the MDC would never contest the run-off.

Meanwhile, he told The Citizen the verification and collation process in the presidential election would commence today (Monday).

“Hopefully we will get the results by the end of this week,” he said.