Tsvangirai protested against the Independence theme in cabinet

Movement for Democratic Change president Morgan Tsvangirai said his party protested against the theme in Cabinet last week.

"We rejected it because we find this a repugnant theme which sounds more of a slogan for a political party than an inclusive, peace-building theme which should be determined through consensus," Mr Tsvangirai said..

However Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo dismissed Mr Tsvangirai's allegations as irrelevant.

He said the theme reflected the main reason why Zimbabweans waged the war of liberation.

"Are they suggesting that we sit back and watch while foreigners loot our resources while our people are wallowing in poverty?" Gumbo said.

"We didn't liberate this country to only hoist the flag, but to make sure that our people are politically, socially and economically empowered. Surely there has to be a transformation in our people's lives."

MDC leader, Professor Welshman Ncube, said it was obligatory for all Zimbabweans to attend Independence Day celebrations.

He said the theme did not matter to his party because they could also appropriate a relevant message for them.
"It (theme) doesn't bother us at all because each person or institution is entitled to appropriate and reflect Independence to what they want.

"For instance, we have decided as a party that we will be reflecting on freedom, devolution and power to the people," Prof Ncube said.