VOA标准英语2008年-Zimbabwe Opposition Leader Says Country Run by

By Peta Thornycroft
Harare
10 June 2008

Zimbabwe opposition¹ leader Morgan Tsvangirai says the country is being run by the military and police. He also says talk of a unity² government is premature³. Peta Thornycroft reports for VOA from Harare Tsvangirai says he is focused on campaigning for the presidential runoff, less than three weeks away.
　

Morgan Tsvangirai, 10 Jun 2008

During a news conference Tuesday, Morgan Tsvangirai said violence against members of his party, the Movement for Democratic Change, has continued unabated since the party won a majority of votes in parliamentary and presidential elections on March 29.

He blames President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF.

"We won the election, only the loser has a score to settle with the masses, this is why ZANU-PF has set up bases across the country," he said. "When the military plan was unveiled, this country has witnessed a de facto coup⁴ d'etat and is now effectively run by a military junta⁵."

The opposition says 66 people have been killed, 200 are unaccounted for, 3,000 have been injured and 25,000 have been internally displaced by violence since the election.

Tsvangirai said the MDC is not involved in any negotiations⁶ for a government of national unity and is preparing for the runoff.

"There is growing momentum⁷ on the question of a government of national unity," he said. "The speculation⁸ is rife⁹ on this issue with some saying negotiations are taking place, others saying an agreement has already been signed; the only difference is that Tsvangirai wants one before elections and Mugabe wants a government of national unity after elections. Nothing can be further form the truth."

But the opposition candidate did not rule out reconciliation¹⁰ after the runoff.

"We have been on record saying once the mandate¹¹ is given to us we will form an inclusive government as a way of managing our transition," he said. "We are committed to this position. The Kenya model of a government of national unity is not an option, because here there was a conclusive¹² outcome, the people have spoken and the people's choice must be respected."

Tsvangirai received more votes than Mr. Mugabe in the March 29 election, but according to official results he did not win the 50 percent plus one vote necessary to avoid a runoff.
　

Robert Mugabe (file photo)

Observers say even if Mr. Mugabe claims victory in the runoff election he will find it difficult to claim a mandate after a vote undermined by campaign violence. That could make a coalition¹³ the only way to restore legitimacy¹⁴.

Meanwhile, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa says he is examining an amnesty for some criminals to make space in prisons for political offenders¹⁵.

The attorney general's office has said it would no longer grant bail¹⁶ to people accused of inciting¹⁷ political violence. The only people known to have been accused of this offense¹⁸ have been victims of political violence, members of the Movement for Democratic Change.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

3 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

4 coup   

n.政变；突然而成功的行动

参考例句：

• The monarch was ousted by a military coup.那君主被军事政变者废黜了。
• That government was overthrown in a military coup three years ago.那个政府在3年前的军事政变中被推翻。

5 junta   

n.团体；政务审议会

参考例句：

• The junta reacted violently to the perceived threat to its authority.军政府感到自身权力受威胁而进行了激烈反击。
• A military junta took control of the country.一个军政权控制了国家。

6 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

7 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

8 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

9 rife   

adj.(指坏事情)充斥的，流行的，普遍的

参考例句：

• Disease is rife in the area.疾病在这一区很流行。
• Corruption was rife before the election.选举之前腐败盛行。

10 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

11 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

12 conclusive   

adj.最后的，结论的；确凿的，消除怀疑的

参考例句：

• They produced some fairly conclusive evidence.他们提供了一些相当确凿的证据。
• Franklin did not believe that the French tests were conclusive.富兰克林不相信这个法国人的实验是结论性的。

13 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

14 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。

15 offenders   

n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物）

参考例句：

• Long prison sentences can be a very effective deterrent for offenders. 判处长期徒刑可对违法者起到强有力的威慑作用。
• Purposeful work is an important part of the regime for young offenders. 使从事有意义的劳动是管理少年犯的重要方法。

16 bail   

v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人

参考例句：

• One of the prisoner's friends offered to bail him out.犯人的一个朋友答应保释他出来。
• She has been granted conditional bail.她被准予有条件保释。

17 inciting   

刺激的，煽动的

参考例句：

• What are you up to inciting mutiny and insubordination? 你们干吗在这里煽动骚动的叛乱呀。
• He was charged with inciting people to rebel. 他被控煽动民众起来叛乱。

18 offense   

n.犯规，违法行为；冒犯，得罪

参考例句：

• I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
• His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。