* Tsvangirai says political reforms key to credible poll
* Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party pushing for early elections in 2012
* Officials defying government orders for reforms
By Cris Chinaka
HARARE, Dec 15 (Reuters) – Zimbabwean Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai on Thursday demanded more electoral reforms
before polls that his rival, President Robert Mugabe, wants to
bring forward to next year.
In an end-of-year address to parliament, Tsvangirai, who was
forced into an awkward power-sharing government with Mugabe’s
ZANU-PF after disputed elections three years ago, accused
ZANU-PF ministers of failing to ease their party’s control of
radio and television.
“The year 2012 must not be characterised by rhetoric about
an early election that is not accompanied by the necessary will
to ensure free and fair election as agreed by the parties,” he
said.
“Political stability is key to our prosperity as a nation
and only a free and fair election can guarantee legitimacy,
peace and stability.”
Although ZANU-PF and Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic
Change have stabilised an economy that in 2008 was struggling
with food shortages and inflation of 500 billion percent, they
are constantly quarrelling over policies and posts.
Continued…
