MDC-T upbeat about national convergence

via MDC-T upbeat about national convergence – The Zimbabwean 14 July 2015

MDC-T has expressed optimism over growing unity among Zimbabweans to converge towards the removal of the long-ruling Zanu (PF).

This comes in the wake of a successful prayer meeting held in Harare’s Highfield suburb last week in commemoration of Itai Dzamara, a journalist and activist who was abducted on March 9.

“If there was one thing that was palpably clear at the Itai Dzamara prayer meeting… it was the fact that Zimbabweans across the political divide are slowly but surely finding each other,” said Obert Gutu, MDC-T spokesperson in a statement.

“It is now apparent that all peace-loving and progressive Zimbabweans across the political and religious divide are now convinced that Robert Mugabe and the Zanu (PF) regime that he leads are an albatross around the necks of all the citizens of this great and mighty nation.

“There is now convergence on the need to peacefully push out the illegitimate Mugabe administration from power,” said Gutu.

For the first time, most of the political parties shared the same platform when they attended the Dzamara prayer meeting on Saturday.

Morgan Tsvangirai rubbed shoulders with erstwhile enemies in the form of Jabulani Sibanda and Temba Mliswa who were ejected from Zanu (PF) for supporting former vice president, Joice Mujuru.

Other parties in attendance were Transform Zimbabwe, Mavambo, Zapu and the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA).

While the Renewal Team was not represented, it signed a joint statement condemning Mugabe’s human rights record and its failure to decisively deal with Dzamara’s disappearance.

Sibanda and Mliswa represented People First, a political movement that emerged following the mass expulsion of Mujuru and her followers.

“The MDC is very pleased by the increasing consciousness amongst Zimbabweans that an injury to one Zimbabwean is indeed an injury to all Zimbabweans,” said Gutu, in reference to Dzamara’s abduction.

“The MDC would like to encourage all patriotic Zimbabweans living in the country and in the Diaspora to join hands in peacefully pushing the corrupt, insensitive, incompetent and violent Zanu (PF) regime out of power.

“This is the time when men and women of honour and integrity should look beyond their artificial political, ethnic, racial and religious barriers and come together in delivering the final sucker punch to the crumbling and faction-ridden Zanu (PF) regime….Zimbabwe needs a fresh start,” said Gutu.