Considering the situation in Zimbabwe, how is President Robert Mugabe still able to stay in office?
Morgan Tsvangirai: Well it is certainly not his popularity. I think Mugabe is able to stay in office because of sheer violence and repressive rule. That’s the bottom line. I mean, how else do dictators stay in power? Mugabe has gone from a democratically elected leader in 1980 to an authoritarian dictator who is now ruling the country by force and foul means. He has created a structure of governance that is directly answerable only to him — ignoring the existence of Cabinet, and ignoring all other democratic institutions like Parliament. When Mugabe ruled democratically, he was loved by the people. But as soon as there was a challenge to his power, in the February 2000 referendum, when the whole nation voted against his proposed changes to the Constitution, he said, ‘Argh, now you don’t want me, you had better live with me forever.’ That’s his attitude. Throughout your visit to Australia you have been very upbeat, and optimistic that change is imminent in Zimbabwe. How is it going to c
