THE MDC Alliance and its partners in the civic society
instigated last week’s violent demonstrations so as to attract the attention
and support of the international community in its failed bid “for talks” with
the Government and ultimately effect an illegal regime change, political
analysts have said.
The MDC A has been accused of using the “fuel protests” to
reignite its bid for talks with Government so that it is accommodated in a
Government of National Unity. A number of MDC Alliance members and civic
society members in South Africa quoted by the media across the Limpopo claimed
the economic challenges that the country is facing can only be solved if
Government “negotiated” with MDC A leader Mr Nelson Chamisa. They added that
regional leaders should “push” the Government to a negotiation table with the
opposition.
“There is no solution without the MDC . . . the Government
should be dragged to a negotiation table and there should be a national
transitional authority in the country . . .” said one activist based in South
Africa.
However, political analyst Mr Richard Mahomva said such
efforts would not succeed, adding that the violent protests did not benefit
anyone.
Another political analyst, Mr Goodwine Mureriwa, told our
Harare Bureau that the violent protests point to a poorly-concealed political
agenda oiled by the country’s traditional foes. He said the protests had
nothing to do with fuel price hikes.
“The fuel issue was only manipulated as a trigger to long
standing efforts to internalise domestic politics in Zimbabwe in a manner
skewed in favour of MDC A.”
President Mnangagwa has also repeatedly said there was no
room for such “talks” with the opposition as he won the Presidential election
and Zanu-PF also has more than two thirds majority in parliament.
In addition, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services
Minister Hon Monica Mutsvangwa said there were threats from the opposition to
overthrow a constitutionally elected Government.
She added that actions by the opposition amounted to
terrorism as they were marked by a total violation of the law which had nothing
to do with the right of citizens to demonstrate as enshrined in section 59 of
the Constitution of Zimbabwe.
“Threats to overthrow a constitutionally elected Government
by force or install an unelected person as President of Zimbabwe will be
thwarted. It will not work . . .”
Minister Mutsvangwa added that the timing of the violence
was not a coincidence, as it sought to put a dent on President Mnangagwa’s
re-engagement efforts during his current tour to Eurasia and the World Economic
Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The ruling Zanu-PF party also said it will not hold talks
with the MDC-Alliance. Zanu-PF chief whip Cde Pupurai Togarepi told the party’s
parliamentary caucus in Harare last week that the social media was awash with
statements by MDC-Alliance functionaries like its deputy treasurer Mr Charlton
Hwende threatening to unseat President Mnangagwa’s Government.
“There are messages on Twitter from the likes of Hwende who
said they are going to remove President Mnangagwa’s Government in January. So
is what we are seeing a manifestation of that? . . . It is very unfortunate if
what they are looking for is dialogue at the same time they are causing mayhem
in the country and destroying property. I think there are many avenues they can
use to create dialogue with Government, with Zanu-PF or with any other
political establishment in the country . . . ,” Cde Togarepi said.
Minister of State for National Security Hon Owen Ncube last
week said the MDC A and its allies organised the violent demonstrations. He
said the protests were “well-orchestrated”, given the widespread scenes of
looting from shops, burning of cars, destruction of property, burning of tyres
and closing of roads, which left four people dead, among them a police officer.
“The prevailing security situation in the country is a
culmination of a well-orchestrated series of events by the MDC Alliance,
working in cahoots with NGOs, civic society, youth organisations, pressure
groups and individuals,” said Minister Ncube.
Minister Ncube said Government was aware of meetings
organised by the Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe from 3 to 7 December last year to
foment disturbances in the country.
“These meetings were coordinated by Crisis Coalition and
some identified foreign agents . . . There were other meetings such as the one
held on 11th January 2019 in Belvedere, whose agenda was to plan for the
disturbance of peace and render the country ungovernable,” he said. Sunday Mail
0 comments:
Post a Comment