From the Prime Minister's Newsletter

31 March 2010

My fellow Zimbabweans,

It gives me great pleasure to take this weekly opportunity to speak to you directly about issues of importance and concern that face us as a nation.

In promoting a new Government culture of transparency and accountability, I will use this platform to interact directly with you so that key issues can be aired, discussed and clarified.

As you are aware, there will shortly be new independent daily newspapers on the streets of Zimbabwe, in line with my promise to open up the media space to ensure that the voices of the people are heard and listened to. Until this process is complete and the State media has been transformed into a truly public media and independent radio and television licenses have been issued, Zimbabweans will continue to face difficulties in making informed choices.

Address by the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, The Right Honourable Morgan Tsvangirai, to the Front Bench and the Liaison And Coordination Committee of the Parliament of Zimbabwe

Harare, March 22, 2010

Honourable Deputy Prime Minister Mutambara, Mr. Speaker Sir, Madam Deputy Speaker, Esteemed Members of the Executive and Parliament, The Clerk and Deputy Clerk of Parliament and Staff

Mr Speaker Sir,

Thank you for inviting me to address this important gathering of distinguished representatives of the people of Zimbabwe.

We who are gathered here today carry the responsibility of ensuring that both Parliament and the Executive conduct the business of Government in the best interests of the nation and the people. We are charged with ensuring that Zimbabwe's laws are a true reflection of the type of society that we wish to build for the good of all our peoples.

Similarly, we are charged with ensuring that the business of Government is conducted openly and transparently and that our national resources are harnessed for the development of the country.

At this time in our nation's history, Parliament has the critical responsibility to guide the Constitution-making process in such a manner that it can be driven by the people to become a truly Zimbabwean document - the ultimate law that will guide the reforms and new legislation required to ensure progress, democracy, sovereignty and, above all, respect for the rights of each and every citizen of our great nation.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has called for a peacekeeping force before elections can be held and called for an end to violence.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai was addressing a Movement for Democratic Change rally in Chitungwiza on Sunday.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai said the Global Political Agreement (GPA) which he signed with president Robert Mugabe in 2008, states that an election will be held within 18-24 months after the formation of the inclusive government.

"We agreed that within the next 18-24 months we go for elections, so far we have gone through the first year and we are left with only a few months. We don't want a violent election but an environment for a free and fair election. We are not afraid of going for an election. I hear reports about violence about houses being burnt. We have to stop the violence before the election" said Prime Minister Tsvangirai.

"Let's bring in foreign observers. Why don't we have a peace keeping force so that everyone is going to exercise their democratic rights. Why don't we have a peacekeeping force so that we have peace and stability before we conduct an election. If we can't do it ourselves lets use SADC and AU to create that environment for a free and fair election," he added.

The Premier called for a conclusion to the interparty talks saying the MDC party was fed up with unending dialogue.

"We are sick and tired of endless talks," he said. "We shall take measures that there will be no more dialogue for dialogue's sake. We are a country in a transition, so get ready for elections."

Zimbabwe's last elections in 2008 ended in a dispute after Prime Minister Tsvangirai defeated President Mugabe in the first round of the elections but later withdrew from a second round citing State sponsored violence against his supporters.

Excerpted Remarks from the Prime Minister's Speech at the Occasion of the Celebration of the Life of Amai Susan Tsvangirai

Glamis Stadium, Harare

6 March 2010

"One Person Can Make a Difference"

We are here to celebrate Susan's life, to celebrate her belief that one person can make a difference - if you are a mother, a daughter a father, a son, a teacher, a bus driver, an accountant or a lawyer, all of us can do something to help someone else.

Everyday of her life she did something for someone - for those who needed something they didn't have, for those who were less fortunate.

We forget in this world that we are people in need, that we are first and foremost Soldiers in an Army of Service and Compassion. We celebrate Susan for reminding us of the importance of service and caring.

But she also lived a life of courage, always there in the MDC as fighter. She would be the first to say today that we should not rest on the victories of the past but move on and work hard to achieve the victories of the future.

Her courage, and the courage of many others who are not here with us, stand as a reminder of what lies ahead, that though there may be a unity government if there is not unity of purpose we stand with a job not done, not fulfilled.

The ZLHR Annual Human Rights Lecture Delivered by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Zimbabwe,

The Right Honourable Morgan Tsvangirai,

Harare, December 11^th 2009

The Chairman of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights , Mr. Andrew Makoni, Members of the Board, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Members of Parliament and Senators, Ambassadors and Members of the Diplomatic Corp Lawyers, Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mr Chairman, thank you for this opportunity to deliver the annual  Lecture.

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of attending an event hosted by MISA and that gathering, like this one, was filled with friends who have stood beside the people of Zimbabwe over the past decade in our struggle for a democratic state.

During the MISA event it occurred to me that not so long ago, if I saw so many journalists in one place, there was a good chance I was heading into trouble and likewise, not so long ago, if I saw so many lawyers in one place it would have meant I was in trouble.

But tonight we are gathered to celebrate the courage, dedication and talents of Zimbabwe's Human Rights Defenders at a time when our nation is struggling to find its way out of the political conflict of the past and into a new, peaceful and prosperous future.

If we think back to last December, we can all see we've made some progress.

Though our journey is slow, & we still have to reach many of our goals, we are definitely moving forward.

Just this time last year, ZLHR walked our streets with a banner for Jestina Mukoko - our woman of peace, witness against violence - asking where is she?

None of us knew.

Statement by the Prime Minister of Zimbabwe, the Right Honourable Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, on Human Rights Day.

My Fellow Zimbabweans

Thursday 10^th December represents International Human Rights Day. This occasion has particular significance to all us in Zimbabwe as we embark on the Constitution-making process.

In effect, our Constitution will represent the supreme law of the land that entrenches the rights that we wish to be governed by and the manner in which we want to be treated by the state, our neighbours and the regional and international communities.

Human Rights is not a foreign concept imposed upon our nation by another country. Instead, these rights represent the fact that each one of us has an intrinsic value through our mere existence.

Indeed our liberation heroes went to war specifically to assert human rights for all Zimbabweans - to reject and defeat the idea that such rights should exist only for a privileged few.

Our rights, which reflect the internationally agreed standards entitled us to oppose and resist unjust laws and bring about the downfall of a brutal regime. It was for these rights that our heroes fought and died.

Therefore, for anyone to now claim that human rights are a trick to impose imperial values upon our cultures and nation means that such individuals have something to fear from our citizens living free from fear.