Christmas Message to the people of Zimbabwe from President Morgan
Tsvangirai
of the Movement for Democratic Change

We enter the festive season as a nation in despair. Traditionally the
season
is a period enabling us to share gifts, express our love, facilitate
family
reunions and, above all, remember the birth of Christ.

The year 2002 has been the most difficult one for the majority. After
the
stolen election in March, we were thrust into darkness. We were disabled
by
the scale of the theft of our voice.

Robert Mugabe's forced stay in office was a mere paper crown. As you
have
experienced, the situation has worsened since then. We feel vindicated
in
that our cries and concerns about Zanu PF's inability to turn around the
country's fortunes are now glaringly clear to all at home and abroad.

Food has become critically short; jobs are vanishing daily; the nation's
health delivery system is on its knees; and essential commodities have
long
disappeared from the market.

We are under intense pressure for reasons we all know arise from the
deepening crisis of governance. This will never disappear until we
accept
the serious challenges ahead and confront them with a view to pave the
way
for a better life for all.

We need to get sufficient food at a rate that is fast enough to avert
famine. The HIV/Aids pandemic is wreaking havoc, taking away the
precious
lives of our most productive citizens.

Inflation is currently running at more than 144,2% in an economy
entering
its fifth straight year of recession and expected to shrink by more than
the
officially acknowledged 10,6% this year.

Our once vibrant agriculture sector, the mainstay of the economy, is at
present in disarray and in need of urgent and constructive attention.
This
has impacted negatively on the stability of the agro-industrial sector,
hit
the security of 350 000 permanent farm workers and about 50 000 seasonal
workers. With their dependants, this figure translates to the
displacement
of between two and three million people.

Life expectancy as at the year 2000 had fallen from about 60 years to
37,8
years.

The nation has become de-humanised. The time has come for us to
recapture
the energy we harnessed early in 2000.

Beyond this sad Christmas period, we must reflect and interrogate
ourselves
with a view to wade through this darkness and see next year as our year
of
freedom.

We must have as our lights the values of: compassion, respect, human
dignity
and collective unity.

We need a fulfilling policy of inclusion rather than policy that
excludes.
Across the political, racial and cultural divides, we must step forward
and
play our part especially now that literally everybody, including the
staunch
Zanu PF supporters, have accepted that Mugabe and their party lack the
capacity and willingness to save Zimbabwe.

Our position on the WAY FORWARD remains clear and unwavering:

. Mugabe must accept immediate retirement.

. The MDC will support legislative and constitutional amendments
through Parliament to facilitate the necessary changes for the
management of
the interim and transitional arrangements.

. A transitional authority will be set up and the composition must
include representatives from key Zimbabwean organisations and political
parties.

. This authority should hold office for a limited period and
prepare
for fresh presidential elections.

. During this time the transitional authority must work to
rebuild
trust and put in place a conducive climate for free political activity.

. A priority will be to overcome the humanitarian crisis facing
our
country.

Morgan Tsvangirai
President