via Bulawayo24 NEWS | Tsvangirai to lead street protests against Mugabe 21 September 2014
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai is headed for a fresh clash with authorities amid revelations that he plans to personally lead street protests being organised by his opposition party from the frontline.
The opposition party spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora on Friday revealed to The Standard modalities for the protests against the worsening economic crisis in the country would be worked out soon after the opposition party’s elective congress set for next month.
“The protests will be more coordinated. The party leadership will be at the front in some of the protests depending on the situation. Definitely, the leadership, including president Tsvangirai, will be there on the front,” Mwonzora told The Standard.
Tsvangirai last week told a South African television channel, E-TV’s 360 Degrees, that his party was working on strategies to force Mugabe’s government to address the country’s economic woes.
He said the country’s free falling economy would likely push the election dates closer than 2018. Tsvangirai’s remarks came after he had told thousands of party supporters who thronged Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo for the party’s 15th anniversary last Saturday that it was now time to adopt a confrontational approach against the government.
Mwonzora said the party leadership, including Tsvangirai, would be on the frontline during the street protests to show that the party was not setting up its supporters.
He said the presence of the MDC-T leadership was meant to show commitment to finding a lasting solution to the problems facing Zimbabwe.
“It is definite, we are going to protest. The aim of the peaceful protests will be to force government into positive action. We are the official opposition and our duty is to force government to act in a responsible manner,” Mwonzora said.
He said the protests would be for all the affected Zimbabweans, not the MDC-T alone.
“At the congress, we are going to come up with a roadmap of our strategies,” Mwonzora said. The MDC-T will be holding its congress in Harare at the end of October.
Asked how the protests would succeed in the face of ruthless police response to street protests, Mwonzora said: “We are going to see that. Definitely we are going to protest. We will be doing this in terms of the laws of the land.”
Mugabe is known for using force to thwart dissent. In 2007 Tsvangirai and several other opposition officials and civic leaders were savagely beaten when they tried to organise a peace rally in Highfield suburb in Harare.
An MDC-T official who preferred anonymity said: “Tsvangirai is brave, if it means being on the front, he will do that. It is time for action. The MDC needs to show that it is prepared to die for the people.”
Already MDC-T youths have been having running battles with the police while trying to hold peaceful demonstrations to pressure Mugabe to provide the two million jobs he promised the electorate ahead of last year’s July 31 polls.
Tsvangirai’s calls for protests have been met with mixed feelings, with some people accusing the former premier of attempting to endanger the lives of many Zimbabweans in the face of a brutal police force.
Mugabe himself has already threatened to deal ruthlessly with any “form of lawlessness”.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo yesterday rubbished Tsvangirai’s proposals for mass action and street protests, describing the opposition leader as “a desperate man with no programme or sense of direction.”
He said this was the reason why Tsvangirai was being deserted by influential party officials, including former secretary-general Tendai Biti.
Gumbo said Zanu-PF was on course to resuscitate the economy through the US$3 billion deal signed between the country and Russia for the establishment of a platinum venture in Darwendale.
“No sensible Zimbabwean will join him in his so-called protests.
Zanu-PF is working hard to implement programmes that will solve the economic problems the country is facing,” he said.
“Zimbabweans will not accept such a project. He is wasting his time and energy.”
Political analyst Alois Masepe said protesting for the economy should be a spontaneous people-driven movement.
COMMENTS
There is nothing illegal about street protests . Zpf is illegal Mr scumrade gumbo scamrade mutasa
Pamberi y.o.z.a. ( youth of Zimbabwe arise )
Pamberi mob justice and street barricades
The boy who cried wolf !!
This is typical of the cry babies
that constantly decry Tsvangarai
for being soft on Mugabe, but
when he calls for a Peaceful March/
Demonstration, the same dissenters
insult him.
“Cry wolf”, very smart, the people
haven’t even got together yet.
They say they are afraid to offend
Mugarbage, when this is what Gandhi
did.
Tens of thousands should support
Tsvangarai and then see what the
world will do, if Mugarbage attacks
them – there will be instant reaction.
Mugarbage’s days will be numbered if he
attacks, injures and assaults Tsvangarai
and his supporters again.
He won’t keep getting away with this sort
of barbaric behavior!
BLACKSMITH, WHAT DO YOU SAY! CONSTITUTION OR TERRORISM!
It’s all lies. No one in that party is capable of organising a mass protests. How many times have they tried and failed before and what happened? Kwangova kutsvaga mari chete.
I for one am so disgruntled with Mugabe.His Ho’s recent unwelcome forage into the politics of Zimbabwe and Cross eye Emmerson’s utterances proclaiming Grace to be some Queen have only hardened my views against RGM. Mugabe has completely taken his eye off Zimbabwe(thats assuming he can still see). I do not see Mugabe growing a conscience about the plight of us poor Zimbos any time soon. So bring it on!!!
what have we got to lose?
Police not a problem.When they attack we will throw bundles of $$$ into the air and then we will see our poorly paid brothers abandon their duties to put food on the table for their families as well.
Chiputistei
Everyone who goes to protest will be awarded a phd in true mama Gucci lips style. At the sign of the first tear gas canister these yellow bellies will run like chickens. Like all of Zimbabwe all talk and no action. Yet there is nothing to lose even the army and police should join so as to get better pay. But then Zimbabwe is filled with fools. All talk. Endless talk and endless lies and broken promises.
Let the youth rise up and throw out the geriatric.
Woow thats where you will see Morgan has the masses .zanu pf will be suprised.
Mlimo and some people on this page.i think instead of criticising protesters you should actually be finding out how to assist coz its clear you dont intend to do anything but criticise.even if people run away from teargas ,let them,they would at least have shown their displeasure.i intend to be there with my satchel of food n water n ready to runaway in case of gunfire .act and stop whinimg.
Panda I was there in1980 My time is near finished. All the smart people left a long time ago. But if you are there walk for me and throw these people out. I wish you well. I can only give my vocal support. If I was 20 again I would join you.
THESE GUYS ARE AFRAID OF STREET PROTESTS. NOW THAT THE GOVT HAS MANAGED TO GET THE IRE OF ALL SECTIONS OF SOCIETY INCLUDING FORCING VENDORS TO PAY TAX, FORCING FARMERS TO PAY HUT AND LAND TAX, NOT PAYING CIVIL SERVANTS ETC THE PROTESTS CAN SUCCEED IF WELL COORDINTATED. THE SITUATION IS LIKE FRANCE IN 1789. RIPE. IF NOTHING IS DONE THE ABUSE IS ALREADY ESCALATING. THEY TAKE PEOPLE’S SILENCE FOR A WEAKNESS. HOW LONG SHALL WE TAKE WASTING OUR LIFE TIME WHEN THESE NAFIA GOONS RAPE THE ECONOMY….THIS MUST STOP.
We need Independence from ZPF. What we got in 1980 was a cloak screen. Yes, we are now all free but our living standards and economy will eventually decay and rot at the hands of these incompetent fools. 1 MAN 1 VOTE but 34 years on still 1 MAN in power – NO RESULT but a negative legacy. FACT
Like RGM and Teurayi Ropa Nhongo, Tsvangirayi / Chamisa, Moyo will send their yougsters into the front line to be killed by state machinery. All Zim leaders are poop scared and not prepared to pay sacrifice but expect others to do so.
Zim people expect some one to come from somewhere to dislodge bob nxx never he will have 20 people for these marches nad then what zvichango uumburuka chete
i aint tsvangirai supporter but with him i wil march My life for the future of zim The time is surely now