News / National
'Mugabe must go before 2018'
26 May 2014 at 11:32hrs | Views
The Zimbabwean economy will continue to suffer if Zimbabweans do not become proactive in calling for the resignation of President Robert Mugabe from power before the next elections in 2018, MDC official Job Sikhala has said.
Sikhala, who recently rejoined the mainstream MDC after abandoning his MDC 99 project, said this yesterday as he addressed thousands of party supporters who had gathered for a special rally to celebrate Africa Day at Zimbabwe Grounds, Highfield in Harare.
Sikhala said economic redemption was in the hands of the people of Zimbabwe, who he said had to speak out and warned them of tough times ahead if Mugabe is allowed to continue his term.
"People are surviving on R5 per day in a country that has been called free, what is so free about such appalling levels of poverty?
"The current economic dismay will only be fixed by the people of this country.
"Enough is enough and the country needs to show Mugabe that he must go," he said.
Despite the huge turnout, party leader Morgan Tsvangirai, did not attend the rally amid confirmation by spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka that he was not feeling well.
Sikhala's utterances come as the country's economy - which had noticeably recovered from a decade-long meltdown during the coalition government between Mugabe and Tsvangirai - is hurtling towards a mega recession last witnessed in 2008.
Sikhala also took a swipe at senior MDC officials who want to grab leadership positions, saying they needed to wait for their time to avoid dividing the party.
He said God would not forgive them if they did not deliver electoral victory for Tsvangirai in view of the road that he has walked so far in opposition politics.
"We should all rally behind our old man and at least give him a term as president of the country.
"I have told my friend Chamisa (Nelson) that I am only 40 and he is 35 so time is on our side to take charge of the party.
"What kind of greed has possessed us to want to lead at such a young age? We should take our time," he said.
Sikhala, who recently rejoined the mainstream MDC after abandoning his MDC 99 project, said this yesterday as he addressed thousands of party supporters who had gathered for a special rally to celebrate Africa Day at Zimbabwe Grounds, Highfield in Harare.
Sikhala said economic redemption was in the hands of the people of Zimbabwe, who he said had to speak out and warned them of tough times ahead if Mugabe is allowed to continue his term.
"People are surviving on R5 per day in a country that has been called free, what is so free about such appalling levels of poverty?
"The current economic dismay will only be fixed by the people of this country.
"Enough is enough and the country needs to show Mugabe that he must go," he said.
Despite the huge turnout, party leader Morgan Tsvangirai, did not attend the rally amid confirmation by spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka that he was not feeling well.
Sikhala's utterances come as the country's economy - which had noticeably recovered from a decade-long meltdown during the coalition government between Mugabe and Tsvangirai - is hurtling towards a mega recession last witnessed in 2008.
Sikhala also took a swipe at senior MDC officials who want to grab leadership positions, saying they needed to wait for their time to avoid dividing the party.
He said God would not forgive them if they did not deliver electoral victory for Tsvangirai in view of the road that he has walked so far in opposition politics.
"We should all rally behind our old man and at least give him a term as president of the country.
"I have told my friend Chamisa (Nelson) that I am only 40 and he is 35 so time is on our side to take charge of the party.
"What kind of greed has possessed us to want to lead at such a young age? We should take our time," he said.
Source - dailynews
