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Tsvangirai's MDC-T hits back at Grace Mugabe
08 Jun 2015 at 09:33hrs | Views
The MDC-T has taken a swipe at First Lady Grace Mugabe claiming that she has a short memory as the fallout in the vendors' saga continues to escalate.
Grace, through Zanu-PF women's league spokesperson Monica Mutsvangwa had denied inciting chaotic vending in Harare and blamed the MDC for misleading the nation on the issue saying the Morgan Tsvangirai-led party was playing a dangerous game of encouraging lawless conduct.
This was after the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai urged street vendors this week to reject eviction from urban centres, saying Zanu-PF is afraid of an uprising.
This came after Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo issued out an ultimatum to vendors to move out from central business districts in all towns across the country before Monday next week. The ultimatum has since been shifted to 26 June.
Obert Gutu, MDC spokesperson, yesterday came out guns blazing saying Mugabe's wife easily forgets what she would have said.
"Grace Mugabe has got a very short memory. She seems to have forgotten that just a few months ago she actively encouraged people to become vendors and to occupy the city streets. If anything, she is the one who is a shameless political opportunist," said Gutu.
"The MDC has always advocated for the adoption of policies that stimulate agricultural and industrial growth, thereby creating thousands of jobs in the formal sector.
"As the MDC, we are against the victimisation of vendors. These are genuine people who are trying to eke out an honest and decent living in a country where the economy has virtually collapsed thanks to decades of Zanu-PF corruption and mis-governance," he added.
Mutsvangwa, had said on Thursday that the First Lady was against the vending.
"She (Grace) also strongly and vehemently denounces opportunist opposition political figures who are opportunistically whipping up irresponsible emotions on the removal of vendors from these urban areas. It is dangerous game to encourage lawless conduct," said Mutsvangwa, speaking to the State media.
"The peace-loving and law-abiding people of Zimbabwe will surely not pay heed to this manifestly lawless exhortation," she added.
Grace, through Zanu-PF women's league spokesperson Monica Mutsvangwa had denied inciting chaotic vending in Harare and blamed the MDC for misleading the nation on the issue saying the Morgan Tsvangirai-led party was playing a dangerous game of encouraging lawless conduct.
This was after the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai urged street vendors this week to reject eviction from urban centres, saying Zanu-PF is afraid of an uprising.
This came after Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo issued out an ultimatum to vendors to move out from central business districts in all towns across the country before Monday next week. The ultimatum has since been shifted to 26 June.
Obert Gutu, MDC spokesperson, yesterday came out guns blazing saying Mugabe's wife easily forgets what she would have said.
"The MDC has always advocated for the adoption of policies that stimulate agricultural and industrial growth, thereby creating thousands of jobs in the formal sector.
"As the MDC, we are against the victimisation of vendors. These are genuine people who are trying to eke out an honest and decent living in a country where the economy has virtually collapsed thanks to decades of Zanu-PF corruption and mis-governance," he added.
Mutsvangwa, had said on Thursday that the First Lady was against the vending.
"She (Grace) also strongly and vehemently denounces opportunist opposition political figures who are opportunistically whipping up irresponsible emotions on the removal of vendors from these urban areas. It is dangerous game to encourage lawless conduct," said Mutsvangwa, speaking to the State media.
"The peace-loving and law-abiding people of Zimbabwe will surely not pay heed to this manifestly lawless exhortation," she added.
Source - dailynews
