via Boost for Tsvangirai : ZCTU, residents threaten to join demos September 22, 2014
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s planned anti-government mass protests received a major boost yesterday when his key allies – labour and residents’ associations – pledged to back him.
The demonsrations are meant to force the Zanu PF-led government to address the country’s economic woes.
Tsvangirai last week threatened to personally lead the demonstrations from the front to force the government to account for its election promises.
The labour-backed party, which rose to prominence in the late ’90s following a series of crippling mass protests organised by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), has already held two mass protests to force Zanu PF to fulfill its election campaign pledge to create 2,2 million jobs.
MDC-T’s key allies — ZCTU and the Combined Harare Residents’ Association (CHRA) — yesterday said they supported Tsvangirai’s street protests plans.
“If you remember, we were the first to say that action was now needed because government has failed. What the MDC-T is saying now is exactly what the ZCTU was saying. Consultation is going on, but we were the first to call for action,” ZCTU president George Nkiwane said.
CHRA chairman Simbarashe Moyo said Zimbabwe was at cross-roads and now needed action to resolve the economic and political impasse of the day.
He said residents would join Tsvangirai in solidarity as they were the most affected by the economic catastrophe bedevilling the country and the newly-introduced raft of tax measures announced by Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa.
“If we demand services that we don’t get, it is our right to demand the services by whatever means possible. We can and we will join the protests in solidarity with the MDC-T because something needs to be done now,” he said.
“Tax is being forced under our throats and we are almost choking. This needs us to be in solidarity with Tsvangirai. We will support
that.”
Contacted for comment, chief police spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba said she would issue a statement on Tsvangirai’s strike threats today.
But Zanu PF has vowed that the country had enough resources and security personnel to deal with Tsvangirai and his MDC-T.
Tsvangirai made headlines during his days as ZCTU secretary-general, leading mass actions that gave the government a torrid time.
The ZCTU later joined forces with student movements, civic society and residents to form the MDC — the first ever opposition party to give Zanu PF a nightmare in 1999.
Currently, Zanu PF is failing to address the economic situation although the ruling party has insisted that the economy was on a rebound courtesy of its Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation programme, although critics have dismissed the blueprint policy as a paper tiger.
Meanwhile, Highfield East MP Eric Murayi was elected MDC-T Harare provincial chairperson with Kerina Gweshe in elections held on Saturday.
Southerton MP Gift Chimanikire and MDC-T national executive member Morgen Femai had earlier expressed interest to contest for the chairmanship but pulled out at the eleventh hour.
Peter Chikwati landed the provincial secretary’s post while Sabina Mudhara will deputise him. Others are Harare deputy mayor Thomas Muzuva (treasurer), Rhino Mashaya (organising secretary), Obert Gutu (spokesperson) and Rorina Bunjira (Women’s Assembly provincial chairperson).
COMMENTS
The democratic route of removing zpf through elections has proved beyond reasonable doubt that its not working. The MDC-T is now back on the right track. Tsvangirai’s inaugral speech ” Mugabe Go Peacefully Now Before the Nation Uprises Against You” at the launch of MDC in 1999 was visionary, and that spirit should never have been abandoned.
I want to believe Tsvangirai still holds this rightful vision, which needs all our support, whatever part of society we are from.
Yeah. The time is now or never!!! Look the vendors are now organized because they are being charged tax for selling madora and roasted maize. The ruralites have been slapped with RHODESIA Type land tax. Civil servants have been neglected. Diamonds are being spirited out by night into Mozambique by smugglers – obviously those in power and we are being told thet diamonds are finished….Lies. Zanu Pf is taking Zimbabweans for granted. They put one stupid policy after another and think Zimbos are a conveniently docile lot. if we do not resist these goons soon they will make us pay tax for water in the rivers. Bullies no no boundaries. Demo forever and never go back!!!!!!! until and unless theere is sanity in the nation. It’s not for Tsvangirai but the fact is that in other countries worh their salt citizens are not treated like trash bu fattened thieves masquerading as government. The time has come comrades to send the message.
The msge has to be Sent loud and clear,i support that stance,Lets Go for it Morgan
Morgan igamba
Y.o.z.a. ( youth of Zimbabwe arise ) pamberi mob justice
Its a welcome call indeed.
They stole the election and they now don’t care sbout our comments in the docial media.
Apolitical aka Jonathan , George, etc have vanished now chasing the riches. God is coming upon you paRed sea. Watch His might .
Exodus 10:1&2
Often I have watched a bull being made to run and turn by a little boy despite its strength, this is exactly what Zanu does to us.
If all those who gathered in the open field at the Sheraton before the 2013 elections come peacefully and register our concern on how we are governed
Unfortunately I am away from home I would have wanted to join this great march.
Egypt did it, Tunisia did it, Ivory Coast did it , Romania did it, Indonesia did it, why can’t we did it in Zimbabwe?
We do not want to hear analyst saying MT has failed they sit at home and pushing pen.
Time to take back what is ours take note police and military join the march you will not regret your choice.
All very noble in intention, but since the 1997 bread riots there has been no successful national campaign of street demonstrations to really threaten ZPF. The people of Zimbabwe are long on debate, talking and hot air. In practise, they don’t have the courage nor the leadership to really take on ZPF and force change. I hope time proves me wrong but I doubt it.
Zimbabwe have been waiting for this time for a very long long time.lets rope in the civil servants as well
jani,its not true Zimbos have been using this strategy without any fruit.the resultant benefits were loss of lives from zanus’bootliking machinations,the same shouid therefore be anticipated if the demos are to come by.
What is the renewal group saying about this?
The right time for our country’s economic break through, fear is the weapon of the devil, all oppressed justice loving security citizens, civil servants, youths, churches….. lets do its now, without this regime we have the potential to be like one of the G7. Thank U Lord for the courage, Amen!!!!
May this spirit cover the whole Zim and peacefully force all guys who have been selfish for so long into exile.
ZPF need to hear 14 million voices saying Zvakwana! The population of Zimbabwe has been thoroughly abused by an oppressive government. They do not speak to us and they do not listen. For how long will they stretch their people and when will the people snap. No! we do not want violence! ZPF wake up!
How many workers are registered with the ZCTU?….who will then join the demos?…its Nkiwane and his few members and MDC-T cohoots….DEMOS for what?…Morgan Tsvangirai is trying to show the Media that he is still alive…..MDC-T is dead………….
If this party is dead or that party is dead the idea is long over due… well done MT, lead with your Lieutenants and all parties will be there….we do not accept any more promises from zanu anymore so lets just do it…
There is bound to be one or two dissenting voices and that’s to be expected.
The message is very clear however, Zimbos have had it with ZANU.
Whether they will rally to Morgan’s call is a big one.
I hope they do, for surely they must have some pride in themselves.
Pride to say enough is enough.
I am unable to participate for health reasons but encourage all able bodied citizens to support this initiative irrespective of political persuasion. Should we fail at this time when ZPF is at it’s weakest we will be judged very harshly by our children & grandchildren for not having the courage to secure their future. Less than 5% of the population are living a comfortable life so very few of us have any excuse not to participate.
I am unable to participate for health reasons but encourage all able bodied citizens to support this initiative irrespective of political persuasion. Should we fail at this time when ZPF is at it’s weakest we will be judged very harshly by our children & grandchildren for not having the courage to secure their future. Less than 5% of the population are living a comfortable life so very few of us will have any excuse not to participate.
Demos to force ZPF to account for election promises?
To me it sounds like an acknowledgment of election defeat by the MDC.
Its less than a year and six months since ZPF romped into victory, surely expecting a major success on all their projects at such a short period is ingenious.
Those planned Demos sound to me like another colossal failure just like the infamous final push.
Timing and strategic execution of the demo will surely prove costly again to the political life of Mr. Tsvangirai.
The government and state security machinery needs to be taken by surprise through highly charged mass demos led in front by fearless and motivated leaders.
The time is ripe. The nation awaits for a leader who will inspire it.
Unfortunately, Tsvangirai is no longer that man. You can’t announce mass demos like you announcing a wedding date for your daughter.
The man is just seeking relevance.
The regional diaspora will join the masses. we will water the tree of Independence with our blood. We will be walking across those mountain valleys and rivers for the sake of liberating our country from neo-colonialists. The army is on our side they will give us guns. Llook Dlakama seeing power slipping he went to Gorongosa now democracy is creeping in our eastern neighbour. Aluta Continua