THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC says it is tired of the
political stand-off in the country and of government using the police to crush
opposition activities and is, therefore, planning to roll out fresh protests, a
top party official has revealed.
Police this year banned several MDC gatherings, saying they
feared the events would turn violent, but the opposition party accuses
President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration of using heavy-handed tactics to
close the democratic space.
“Fellow Zimbabweans, brothers and sisters, my message to
you all is that time for change is now. No one can free us, but ourselves. The
debilitating crisis of Zimbabwe now demands action,” MDC organising secretary
Amos Chibaya said in a statement.
“The rogue regime is taking us down the garden path by
promises of a better Zimbabwe. On November 17, 2017, we jumped from a frying
pan into the fire after the coup. It is now time to pour into the streets and
send a clear message to the dictator that enough is enough.”
Chibaya’s statement came a day after he was cleared by the
courts on charges of attempting to overthrow Mnangagwa’s government during
protests in January that started when government increased fuel prices by 150%.
Mnangagwa, who took over as leader of the southern African
country after his predecessor, the late Robert Mugabe — who ruled Zimbabwe for
37 years — was ousted by his own generals in a coup two years ago.
Mugabe died at a Singapore hospital on September 6 and was
privately buried 22 days later at his rural home in Zvimba following a nasty
fallout with Mnangagwa.
Last week, police used batons, teargas and water cannons to
beat up and disperse MDC supporters who had gathered outside their party
headquarters in the capital to listen to a speech by Chamisa.
Two days later, Mnangagwa defended his record in an
editorial opinion piece in international media, saying his administration was
opening up political and media space.
Chibaya, however, said violence against members of his
party by Mnangagwa’s government would not deter the opposition party from
launching more protests to pressure the President to address the country’s
political and economic challenges.
“The country is (now) rooted in entrenched dictatorship
which does not require body massaging, but real action of sustained peaceful
demonstrations,” he said.
“The streets should become our second homes. The recent
infamous actions by police to crush our demonstrations should not deter us. Let
them kill us all, but we die saving our future generations.”
The Mkoba legislator called upon State security members to
sympathise with the protesters, instead of being used to crush them.
On Monday, MDC youths took to the Harare Magistrates’ Court
to protest what they called State-assisted closure of democratic space, with
the police denying them the right to hold public gatherings or demonstrations
while the ruling Zanu PF enjoys unfettered freedom.
Nearly 20 youths led by Gift Ostallos Siziba, the youth
assembly spokesperson, walked into the magistrates’ court with tape covering
their mouths, accusing Mnangagwa’s government of using the police and courts to
curtail political freedom for ordinary Zimbabweans.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said
authority for MDC to hold fresh protests would be determined by regulating
authorities in areas where the opposition party plans to roll out the
demonstrations.
“Notifications of demonstrations are not directed to Police
General Headquarters where I am. So I am unable to give additional information
on the planned demonstrations by MDC. We are not privy to such reports of
planned demonstrations. As it stands and whether or not the demonstrations will
be allowed is an issue for the commanders at districts. I cannot comment on
their behalf,” Nyathi said.
Chamisa on Tuesday ordered his party structures to be
vigilant and change tact to regain ground in the wake of an unofficial ban of
his party business by the State.
Chamisa met Harare provincial structures on Tuesday, where
he said there was need for the province to work extra hard to occupy “zones of
autonomy” and devise strategies meant to counter the ban by police of the party
gatherings.
Chamisa’s spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda said the MDC
leader’s move to engage provinces was a deliberate strategy to deal with
attempts to silence him by the Mnangagwa administration.
“The activities he is bringing are meant to bring the party
to the people and are a strategic move to make sure that the people are able to
protect the organisation and are able to prevent this unofficial ban of the
organisation by the State and the military. There is co-relation between that
and the activities he is undertaking,” Sibanda said.
“He is aligning provinces with objectives of the congress
and making sure the organs of the party are performing at their highest. All
deployees in government and party should work and there is framework he is
pursuing and that the party progresses and increases its strength.”
Harare province MDC chairman Wellington Chikombo said
Chamisa, as the commander, was rallying his troops to work for change, which he
said was nigh.
In the address, Chamisa is said to have told his
councillors and MPs to be visible and take control of the streets, a statement
viewed as pushing for more action on the ground.
“He who controls the streets will define the State,”
Chamisa reportedly told the meeting. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment