News / National
Tsvangirai won't back down on jobs demos
11 Sep 2014 at 12:57hrs | Views
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday vowed that his MDC will continue confronting President Robert Mugabe's government over the two millions jobs the ruling party promised before elections last year.
While addressing party youths and a legislator freed from remand prison for staging a jobs demo in Harare last month, the MDC leader said no amount of arrests will deter the youths' demand for jobs.
The party activists were arrested after staging the demo at a time regional leaders were meeting for a Sadc summit in Victoria Falls.
They include MDC MP Ronia Bunjira, Youth of Zimbabwe for Transparency and Progress member Danmore Tshuma, Bridget Nyandoro, Stanley Manyenga, Stewarty Gwebe, Unnete Chibinya and Keith Charumbira, a pastor of Holy Nations Ministries based in Mabvuku.
"Mugabe may put us in jail but he can never put the spirit of the people for freedom in jail, he can't do that," Tsvangirai said boldly at his Harvest House headquarters yesterday.
"Ultimately, when we are all in jail, I think we will all be safe but I don't know whether we will have ever enough food."
The former premier implored all MDC activists to participate in the struggle to address the deepening economic meltdown.
"As the nation faces this challenging national crisis, it is incumbent upon us, activists, members of the MDC, in participating in trying to find a solution. Kutarisa chete hakubatsiri (Just looking will not help)," the former premier said. He urged youths to participate in any demonstration for the right cause.
"I just want to say thank you very much for the sacrifice, let's hope that when workers are demonstrating, when the vendors are demonstrating, when students are demonstrating, when the poor and the women and the youth are demonstrating for rightful causes, we have to participate," he said.
"But of course, hapana (there is no) struggle isina (without) sacrifice, ndokunowuya (that's where) heroism yacho (comes from)," Tsvangirai added.
Last month, Tsvangirai warned that he was withdrawing the call for dialogue with Mugabe, and is now focusing on mobilising the people to confront the government.
"We are drawing a line in the sand and we shall pressurise and mobilise the people because those who claim to be in charge have not demonstrated any desire and commitment to solve the pressing national issues.
"They have become bystanders while the country burns," Tsvangirai said. After meeting Tsvangirai, the activists declared that they would continue fighting.
"We have to take the struggle forward. They tried to harass us in jail but we refused and told them that we know our rights. Our spirits will never be broken," said Bunjira, one of the activists.
While addressing party youths and a legislator freed from remand prison for staging a jobs demo in Harare last month, the MDC leader said no amount of arrests will deter the youths' demand for jobs.
The party activists were arrested after staging the demo at a time regional leaders were meeting for a Sadc summit in Victoria Falls.
They include MDC MP Ronia Bunjira, Youth of Zimbabwe for Transparency and Progress member Danmore Tshuma, Bridget Nyandoro, Stanley Manyenga, Stewarty Gwebe, Unnete Chibinya and Keith Charumbira, a pastor of Holy Nations Ministries based in Mabvuku.
"Mugabe may put us in jail but he can never put the spirit of the people for freedom in jail, he can't do that," Tsvangirai said boldly at his Harvest House headquarters yesterday.
"Ultimately, when we are all in jail, I think we will all be safe but I don't know whether we will have ever enough food."
The former premier implored all MDC activists to participate in the struggle to address the deepening economic meltdown.
"As the nation faces this challenging national crisis, it is incumbent upon us, activists, members of the MDC, in participating in trying to find a solution. Kutarisa chete hakubatsiri (Just looking will not help)," the former premier said. He urged youths to participate in any demonstration for the right cause.
"I just want to say thank you very much for the sacrifice, let's hope that when workers are demonstrating, when the vendors are demonstrating, when students are demonstrating, when the poor and the women and the youth are demonstrating for rightful causes, we have to participate," he said.
"But of course, hapana (there is no) struggle isina (without) sacrifice, ndokunowuya (that's where) heroism yacho (comes from)," Tsvangirai added.
Last month, Tsvangirai warned that he was withdrawing the call for dialogue with Mugabe, and is now focusing on mobilising the people to confront the government.
"We are drawing a line in the sand and we shall pressurise and mobilise the people because those who claim to be in charge have not demonstrated any desire and commitment to solve the pressing national issues.
"They have become bystanders while the country burns," Tsvangirai said. After meeting Tsvangirai, the activists declared that they would continue fighting.
"We have to take the struggle forward. They tried to harass us in jail but we refused and told them that we know our rights. Our spirits will never be broken," said Bunjira, one of the activists.
Source - dailynews
