The Nelson Chamisa-led MDC has suspended meetings by its
provincial assemblies to mobilise people to protest against the deteriorating
economic situation in the country until the coronavirus outbreak is over.
Chamisa and his lieutenants have been holding meetings with
party structures to organise protests to force President Emmerson Mnangagwa to
the negotiating table.
Amos Chibaya, the MDC organising secretary, said the
party’s provincial youth conferences that were supposed to be rolled out
countrywide as part of a mobilisation strategy ahead of the “final push” had
since been shelved.
“We had started some programmes, but now we are putting
them on hold,” he said. “However, it
does not mean we are giving up in our fight against the dictatorship. We just
want to allow the coronavirus to pass..
“As you are well aware, the people’s president Nelson
Chamisa launched the Zimbabwe Lock Out Coronavirus programme otherwise known as
the #Zim-lock campaign as part of our contributions to fight against the
coronavirus.
“So, we are suspending party meetings until further
notice.”
Chibaya said for now the party would play its part in
ensuring that Zimbabweans were aware of the coronavirus and help prevent a
deadly outbreak.
“We urge the nation to take all the safety precautions,
including practicing hygiene wherever you are, and also urge family members to
do the same,” he said.
“We will continue to give direction on the way forward in
terms of our journey for change in this country.”
Besides the MDC, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has
also been mobilising for a “national shutdown”s to protest against the falling
standards of living.
Mnangagwa last week declared a a state of national disaster
and banned gatherings of more than 100 people.
He also announced a number of other measures to stop the
spread of the disease. Zimbabwe has two confirmed cases of coronavirus so far.
Standard
0 comments:
Post a Comment