Tsvangirai Vows to Fight Graft, Unemployment if Party Wins Elections

HARARE —  Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday vowed to fight corruption to high unemployment levels in the country is his party wins fresh elections expected to be called sometime this year.

Mr. Tsvangirai made the commitment in an address officially opening his party’s three-day national policy conference horning out its top priority policies to champion during the campaign period.

The MDC leader, who formed a power-sharing government with President Robert Mugabe in 2009 following disputed polls a year earlier, says he’s confident of victory and that he will form the next government. He told delegates after victory will be the tough task of re-building the country and dealing graft and related problems.

The Premier said policy differences between the MDC and 89 year-old President Robert Mugabe’ Zanu PF party were hampering progress in Zimbabwe, adding a credible election is the only answer to the country’s woes.

Among those who delivered solidarity messages at the conference was Japhet Moyo, general secretary of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. He criticized some MDC ministers in the unity government for failing to implement policies that support workers.

Delegates are expected to have crafted and fine-tuned policies that will form the party’s election manifesto. Other policies that are being centered on include the party’s land policy.

“The MDC’s land policy is that it is irreversible but should be one person, one farm and the need for an independent land audit, the establishment of a land commission and that land should be democratized,” an earlier statement from the party said.