MDC-T supports the demonstrations

The crisis in the country is worsening every day and the deteriorating situation demands nothing less than the resignation of President Robert Mugabe and his government.

The situation in the cities, towns and in the villages points to a failed government. These pop-corn demonstrations and protests sprouting everywhere and that are engulfing our cities and towns are symptomatic of grave national grievances that remain unresolved.
 
As the MDC, our position on this issue remains very clear and unequivocal. We strongly believe that it is the right of every Zimbabwean to demonstrate and petition and enshrined in section 59 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.

That is why as a party, we began public demonstrations in Harare on 14 April and proceeded to hold similar protest marches in Bulawayo and Mutare. We have got a roll-out programme for all the provinces while in the meantime we will support every march, every petition and every demonstration aimed at exposing this government for failing to resolve the burgeoning national crisis.

Civil servants have no pay, Zimbabweans are starving, and corruption is rampant in all sectors of the economy. It is ironic that the drivers of the scourge of corruption include the Office of the President and Cabinet and the First Family who recently unprocedurally awarded a multi-million dollar tender for a diesel power plant in Dema to a brother to the President's son-in-law.

Zimbabwe is burning. Every sector of the economy is bleeding and only today, commuters and commuter operators in various parts of Harare exercised their constitutional right by demonstrating against the many roadblocks that in essence are State-sanctioned outposts of corruption. Zimbabweans themselves are putting this regime on notice and something huge will give if national grievances are not addressed.

Three years ago, Zanu-PF campaigned on a cheap message, Bhora Mugedhi. What Zimbabweans are simply doing now through their various actions is to retrieve that ball from the nets of poverty and demanding that the nation begins this game afresh by steering the country back to legitimacy through a free and fair election and put in a office a legitimate government that will address their grievances. The demonstrations currently happening are part of the national desire for Operation Bhora Pacentre . Indeed, Zimbabweans want a fresh start, a fresh beginning under a legitimate government.

At our 4th Congress in October 2014 in Harare, we resolved to engage in demonstrations and to support any legitimate demonstration in the country. As the situation deteriorates in Zimbabwe, we stand in support of any exercise of the rights of the people in line with the dictates of the Constitution.

Zimbabweans reserve their right to petition and demonstrate peacefully. We in the MDC support any sector that is embarking in peaceful demonstrations. As a party, we urge all our members to join any legitimate demonstration that is meant to bring pressure on this regime. On our part, we shall continue to mobilize Zimbabweans against this government, which must  resign because it has failed the people of Zimbabwe.

We urge SADC to urgently intervene as Zimbabwe is burning. The region cannot fold its hands while the situation is worsening in a member State.

We are heartened by the fact that some civic organisations are planning for action on the 6th of July, 2016. We totally support that endeavour. However, we would like to warn Zanu-PF not to resort to brute force as that would exacerbate an already volatile situation.

Peaceful demonstrations must continue. They are a constitutional right of the people of Zimbabwe.