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Tsvangirai to address Africa Day rally
21 May 2014 at 11:30hrs | Views
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has organised a special rally for Sunday at Zimbabwe Grounds to celebrate Africa Day and to drum up support for the opposition party.
Luke Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai's spokesperson confirmed the development.
"The MDC president, a patriotic and popular leader of a post-liberation political behemoth, will address a star rally in Highfield where ordinary Zimbabweans as well as African and other envoys to Zimbabwe are cordially invited," Tamborinyoka told the Daily News.
Every year Africa celebrates the founding of the Organisation of African Union (OAU), the predecessor the African Union (AU) founded by pan-Africanist in 1963.
While Tamborinyoka says the star rally will review the economic and political woes blighting the continent's progress towards eradicating poverty, critics say the embattled MDC leader is out to assess his grip at the helm of the 15-year movement.
Last month former MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti and a host of leaders, walked out of the party, after accusing Tsvangirai of "remarkable failure of leadership".
Tsvangirai, who enjoys considerable grassroots support compared to his erstwhile comrades, is seeking to turn the nation's attention to the pressing economic woes, unemployment and general poverty.
"His Africa day address will centre on the challenges and acute deficits on the political, governance and economic front that most African States continue to face decades after successful liberation struggles," Tamborinyoka said.
"President Tsvangirai's address will also locate Zimbabwe in the context of Africa's struggle for democracy, freedom, prosperity and the dignity of her citizens. African citizens remain shackled in the chains of poverty and oppression while the dignity and freedom of the African is still elusive, even after we were purportedly liberated."
The former premier, who disputes results of last year's controversial elections where he lost a third election challenge to veteran President Robert Mugabe and defied calls to stand down after this defeat, claims Africa is wallowing in poverty because of poor governance.
"Decades after independence, Africa continues to hold disputed elections while the continent's citizens remain impoverished despite the abundant resources that are plundered by the new oppressors that took over the reins of governance after independence," Tamborinyoka said.
This year's Africa Day celebrations come on the backdrop of the sad abduction of more than 200 school girls by Islamist militants in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, efforts to mend relations between opposition MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai and party secretary-general Tendai Biti, have reached a decisive stage with indications talks could be concluded this week.
A group of the party's elder statesmen and women, known as the Guardian Council, is "working internally and around the clock" to find a solution and bring cohesion in the opposition party.
Luke Tamborinyoka, Tsvangirai's spokesperson confirmed the development.
"The MDC president, a patriotic and popular leader of a post-liberation political behemoth, will address a star rally in Highfield where ordinary Zimbabweans as well as African and other envoys to Zimbabwe are cordially invited," Tamborinyoka told the Daily News.
Every year Africa celebrates the founding of the Organisation of African Union (OAU), the predecessor the African Union (AU) founded by pan-Africanist in 1963.
While Tamborinyoka says the star rally will review the economic and political woes blighting the continent's progress towards eradicating poverty, critics say the embattled MDC leader is out to assess his grip at the helm of the 15-year movement.
Last month former MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti and a host of leaders, walked out of the party, after accusing Tsvangirai of "remarkable failure of leadership".
Tsvangirai, who enjoys considerable grassroots support compared to his erstwhile comrades, is seeking to turn the nation's attention to the pressing economic woes, unemployment and general poverty.
"President Tsvangirai's address will also locate Zimbabwe in the context of Africa's struggle for democracy, freedom, prosperity and the dignity of her citizens. African citizens remain shackled in the chains of poverty and oppression while the dignity and freedom of the African is still elusive, even after we were purportedly liberated."
The former premier, who disputes results of last year's controversial elections where he lost a third election challenge to veteran President Robert Mugabe and defied calls to stand down after this defeat, claims Africa is wallowing in poverty because of poor governance.
"Decades after independence, Africa continues to hold disputed elections while the continent's citizens remain impoverished despite the abundant resources that are plundered by the new oppressors that took over the reins of governance after independence," Tamborinyoka said.
This year's Africa Day celebrations come on the backdrop of the sad abduction of more than 200 school girls by Islamist militants in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, efforts to mend relations between opposition MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai and party secretary-general Tendai Biti, have reached a decisive stage with indications talks could be concluded this week.
A group of the party's elder statesmen and women, known as the Guardian Council, is "working internally and around the clock" to find a solution and bring cohesion in the opposition party.
Source - dailynews
