News / National
Tsvangirai's boycott call rejected
18 May 2015 at 08:21hrs | Views
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai's bid to discourage voters from participating in the Tsholotsho North by election flopped dismally yesterday when only a handful of supporters turned up for his meeting.
Tsvangirai, frustrated by the low numbers for his "no reform, no votes" campaign despite bussing members from Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and South Africa, conceded that Zanu-PF candidate Professor Jonathan Moyo would win resoundingly.
The MDC-T leader who spoke for less than 20 minutes attributed the low turnout to the massive Zanu-PF campaigns in the area. Zanu-PF is so far the only party courting votes from the electorate.
The two MDC proxies Busani Ncube linked to Tsvangirai's party and Gertrude Sibanda associated with the MDC Renewal who filed nomination papers to contest as independent candidates have neither started campaigning nor putting up posters.
Tsvangirai and his senior officials vented their frustrations on state media journalists covering the event accusing the scribes of writing lies about the party yet they earned "peanuts." The beleagured MDC-T leader, who has a reputation of contradicting himself, told the handful supporters that his party would win back the Tsholotsho North seat in the 2018 elections.
"We know that Jonathan Moyo will win this by-election but it will be a hollow victory. We all know that Jonathan Moyo doesn't represent anyone because he'll never change anything here in Tsholotsho," claimed Tsvangirai.
This is despite the fact that Prof Moyo has initiated the construction of an Olympic standard stadium in Tsholotsho and facilitated the on-going drilling of 20 boreholes in the constituency's 10 Wards as part of efforts to alleviate acute water shortages.
Tsvangirai, who is known for boycotting elections and national events, made a desperate call to his party supporters to either stay at home during the by-elections or spoil the ballot papers.
"We're not here to campaign for Members of Parliament. This campaign of reforms is important before we move to the next elections. We want transparency," he said.
He also disputed reports that he was falling out with the party's vice president Thokozani Khupe, who also attended the meeting. Organising secretary, Abednico Bhebhe, castigated state media journalists, saying they were being used by Zanu-PF to spread lies.
He showed little understanding of the operations and ownership structure of state media by claiming that journalists were being paid peanuts by Zanu-PF.
"Zanu-PF has been ruling for the past 35 years and nothing has been done for the people. It's surprising that there are people who follow us where ever we go just to write lies, yet we're trying to solve the problems of this country.
"These journalists are being paid peanuts by Zanu-PF to destroy this country," said Bhebhe.
Tsvangirai, frustrated by the low numbers for his "no reform, no votes" campaign despite bussing members from Bulawayo, Matabeleland South and South Africa, conceded that Zanu-PF candidate Professor Jonathan Moyo would win resoundingly.
The MDC-T leader who spoke for less than 20 minutes attributed the low turnout to the massive Zanu-PF campaigns in the area. Zanu-PF is so far the only party courting votes from the electorate.
The two MDC proxies Busani Ncube linked to Tsvangirai's party and Gertrude Sibanda associated with the MDC Renewal who filed nomination papers to contest as independent candidates have neither started campaigning nor putting up posters.
Tsvangirai and his senior officials vented their frustrations on state media journalists covering the event accusing the scribes of writing lies about the party yet they earned "peanuts." The beleagured MDC-T leader, who has a reputation of contradicting himself, told the handful supporters that his party would win back the Tsholotsho North seat in the 2018 elections.
"We know that Jonathan Moyo will win this by-election but it will be a hollow victory. We all know that Jonathan Moyo doesn't represent anyone because he'll never change anything here in Tsholotsho," claimed Tsvangirai.
This is despite the fact that Prof Moyo has initiated the construction of an Olympic standard stadium in Tsholotsho and facilitated the on-going drilling of 20 boreholes in the constituency's 10 Wards as part of efforts to alleviate acute water shortages.
Tsvangirai, who is known for boycotting elections and national events, made a desperate call to his party supporters to either stay at home during the by-elections or spoil the ballot papers.
"We're not here to campaign for Members of Parliament. This campaign of reforms is important before we move to the next elections. We want transparency," he said.
He also disputed reports that he was falling out with the party's vice president Thokozani Khupe, who also attended the meeting. Organising secretary, Abednico Bhebhe, castigated state media journalists, saying they were being used by Zanu-PF to spread lies.
He showed little understanding of the operations and ownership structure of state media by claiming that journalists were being paid peanuts by Zanu-PF.
"Zanu-PF has been ruling for the past 35 years and nothing has been done for the people. It's surprising that there are people who follow us where ever we go just to write lies, yet we're trying to solve the problems of this country.
"These journalists are being paid peanuts by Zanu-PF to destroy this country," said Bhebhe.
Source - chronicle
