Mugabe, Tsvangirai Call for End to Zimbabwe Violence

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai called for an end to violence between supporters of their parties ahead of possible elections next year.

Election campaigns ahead of voting in 2000, 2002, 2005 and 2008 were marred by violent clashes between supporters of Mugabe and Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change, who has led the country since the end of whites-only rule in 1980. In 2009 Tsvangirai’s MDC formed a coalition government with Mugabe’s party after pressure from the country’s neighbors to end the dispute.

“If we could reconcile with the whites, now as fellow blacks why do we trouble each other, why do we fight?” Mugabe said told officials from both parties at a meeting in the capital, Harare, today.

Tsvangirai has complained repeatedly about the conduct of law enforcement and military agencies, which are under the control of Mugabe’s party.

“I urge law enforcement agents to begin to take their national responsibilities seriously,” Tsvangirai said.’’State agents, especially the police, must protect the people and not harm the people.’’