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Tsvangirai rues lack of reforms ahead of Zimbabwe vote | Tsvangirai rues lack of reforms ahead of Zimbabwe vote |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Reforms needed to ensure free and fair presidential and parliamentary polls in Zimbabwe later this month have not been introduced, says PM Morgan Tsvangirai. | Reforms needed to ensure free and fair presidential and parliamentary polls in Zimbabwe later this month have not been introduced, says PM Morgan Tsvangirai. |
He also pledged to create more jobs as he launched his campaign at a rally in Marondera, ahead of the 31 July vote. | |
He is standing for president against his main rival and coalition partner, Robert Mugabe. | He is standing for president against his main rival and coalition partner, Robert Mugabe. |
On Friday Mr Mugabe said it was a "do or die struggle", but urged supporters to refrain from violence. | On Friday Mr Mugabe said it was a "do or die struggle", but urged supporters to refrain from violence. |
The 89-year-old president predicted a 90% victory for his Zanu-PF party. | |
There have been concerns about violence and intimidation ahead of the vote. | There have been concerns about violence and intimidation ahead of the vote. |
Jobs, healthcare, economy | Jobs, healthcare, economy |
Mr Tsvangirai was approaching these elections "with a heavy heart", since the necessary reforms had not been introduced, he told the crowd. | Mr Tsvangirai was approaching these elections "with a heavy heart", since the necessary reforms had not been introduced, he told the crowd. |
"There are no reforms in the media, and other reforms to ensure free and fair elections have not been achieved," he told supporters at the rally east of Harare. | "There are no reforms in the media, and other reforms to ensure free and fair elections have not been achieved," he told supporters at the rally east of Harare. |
The leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) pledged to create jobs and boost industries such as manufacturing and mining that have seen businesses closed in recent times. | The leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) pledged to create jobs and boost industries such as manufacturing and mining that have seen businesses closed in recent times. |
He also promised to introduce free health care within the first 100 days of his presidency and to scrap maternity healthcare fees for women. | He also promised to introduce free health care within the first 100 days of his presidency and to scrap maternity healthcare fees for women. |
And the 61-year-old said he would only bring back the Zimbabwean dollar if there was economic stability. | And the 61-year-old said he would only bring back the Zimbabwean dollar if there was economic stability. |
He pulled out of the second round of the 2008 presidential election, accusing the security forces and pro-Mugabe militias of attacking his supporters around the country. | He pulled out of the second round of the 2008 presidential election, accusing the security forces and pro-Mugabe militias of attacking his supporters around the country. |
He had won the most votes in the first round but, according to official results, not enough to win outright. | He had won the most votes in the first round but, according to official results, not enough to win outright. |
After Mr Mugabe went ahead with the run-off, winning with 85% of votes cast, regional mediators intervened to organise the power-sharing agreement. | After Mr Mugabe went ahead with the run-off, winning with 85% of votes cast, regional mediators intervened to organise the power-sharing agreement. |
The election will mark the end of that coalition government, which has stabilised the country's economy. | The election will mark the end of that coalition government, which has stabilised the country's economy. |
On Thursday, the Constitutional Court rejected an appeal by both parties to delay elections set for 31 July for a couple of weeks. | On Thursday, the Constitutional Court rejected an appeal by both parties to delay elections set for 31 July for a couple of weeks. |
Critics says key security, media and electoral reforms demanded by regional mediators, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), have yet to be implemented. | Critics says key security, media and electoral reforms demanded by regional mediators, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), have yet to be implemented. |
The MDC also warned last month that the voters' roll was in a "shambles" and the vote could be rigged. | The MDC also warned last month that the voters' roll was in a "shambles" and the vote could be rigged. |
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