Source: Govt threatens to crush MDC-T cash – NewsDay Zimbabwe May 13, 2016
GOVERNMENT yesterday threatened to descend heavily and crush cash demonstrations planned by the main opposition MDC-T party.
by XOLISANI NCUBE
This came as the MDC-T national council met in the capital and resolved to mobilise street protests soon to force the Zanu PF government to rescind its decision to introduce bond notes in two months’ time as part of measures to ease the current cash crisis.
Addressing journalists in Harare, Home Affairs minister Ignatius Chombo, who is also Zanu PF administration secretary, warned the police would “ruthlessly deal with malcontents bent on causing disorder and chaos in the country”, as political temperatures soar in Zimbabwe.
“You cannot simply go out there and threaten demonstrations because you want to create chaos and mayhem by calling for demonstrations in our cities,” he said.
“Those agitating for such will be dealt with by the police. I want to urge my colleague politicians not to create havoc in a country enjoying this peace.
“There are political parties that are going out and promising people that we need to go and have a demonstration against bond notes, against anything. I am saying to those parties there are very clear procedures they must follow.”
The move to introduce bond notes has been widely rejected by a cross section of society, including businesses, civic groups and opposition parties, who have threatened street protests.
“I mean, a political party simply going out to incite people that let’s go and demonstrate against this — I don’t want to see any political party inciting people to demonstrate without following due processes. If they do so, they will have themselves to blame. But, honestly, how do you protest against money?” Chombo asked.
But the MDC-T national council, which met in Harare yesterday, vowed to go ahead with the street protests against bond notes.
“We discussed the issue of bond notes and resolved to go for street protests as well as follow the legal route to stop their introduction,” MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu said.
“We believe it’s illegal what the RBZ (Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe) is trying to do. We will not be stopped from enjoying our constitutional right to demonstrate by threats from Chombo or any other Zanu PF official.”
The National Informal Economy Network on Wednesday said the problems facing the country needed a political solution, not the introduction of bond notes, which could further worsen the suffering of ordinary people.
The spokesperson for the network, Promise Mkwananzi, said several stakeholders had joined hands to form a united front to resist the bond notes through various means including demonstrations and boycotts.
Meanwhile, Chombo said 19 more Zimbabwean women, victims of human trafficking in Kuwait, had been rescued.
He said the women were currently staying at the residence of Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Kuwait, while government was mobilising resources for their return.
“To date, a significant number of victims have been assisted to return to Zimbabwe. We have reports that more still need help to return and the government is working on different modalities to facilitate the safe return of our citizens,” Chombo said.
He said seven suspects behind the human trafficking ring were expected to be arrested soon.
COMMENTS
Don’t be afraid Ignatius. .. people are just copying the Zanu PF method of Jambanja.
What cash?
times are hard . its time for ZANU PF TO learn to work with other political parties to turn around Zimbabwe instead of showing dislike for this and that a real father would call his son the table and solve our problems together. why do Government need to view other political parties as enemies. change your attitude now and reap good results. ZANU PF should now stance of a Godfather and call on other parties to the table. You don’t need outsiders to tell you this. THINK !!!! ZANU NDEGA AKASIYA JIRA MUMASESE
the proposed demonstration is against the policy to re-intorduce the zimdolla via “bond notes”
this will have an enormous impact on all our lives and in a short time lead to empty shops and increased poverty
that is what people believe and it is therefore their constitutional right to demonstrate against the proposal to introduce bond notes.
chombo’s language and threats are misplaced. rather let government listen to the voice of the people.
…..but the bond notes are the same as U.S dollars! Don’t be so negative!
Chimusoro soon shops will be empty. Those bond notes are only ACCEPTED in Zimbabwe.
Chombo is an absolute idiot.
does everyone really know what bond notes are. They are really nothing more than a statement of debt, or an iou. Their value really lies with the confidence people have that the government will honour them. Bit of a problem really isnt it?
If these bond papers are equivalent to dollars-Why not just release them to the public?
Sorry correction-release US dollars to the public
Correction-release USA dollars to the public
Ah, Ignorance Chombo . . . at it again. “Have gun, will travel” Is, was and always has been a total thug.
I can see why Chombo never joined the nationalists in Mozambique – he would have been arguing against the armed struggle; what with it “causing disorder and chaos in the country.”
VOODOO ECONOMICS! !!!!!!!
I urge the police to ignore chombo directive and let the mdc demonstrate.everyone is suffering even ploce officers.the demonstrations should continue.