MDC-T is not desperate for support- Sikhala

An MDC-T official Job Wiwa Sikhala has dispelled the thinking by some sectors of the community that the MDC-T was desperate for support that is why it is now talking about coalition with other parties.

He said some of the loose talk people hear from certain others from some political parties tend to raise questions whether these people really serve the interests of Zimbabweans at all.

"They now think the MDC is now calling for coalition talks because we are desperate for their support. I came across one post that called upon Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T leader)  to come down and join CODE if any coalition negotiations are to succeed. This is working from the wrong premise that it is the MDC that is screaming and desperate for the coalition," Sikhala said.

"It is rather responding to call by the people of Zimbabwe who want to deal with Mugabe's tyranny once and for all. Subjecting each other to innuendos that Tsvangirai is at the desperate end and he must go and kneel to CODE to beg for a coalition is not only self misleading but false in its total assumptions. With the differing political developments in our country it is a fact that it is only Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC and Joyce Mujuru and her People First who have shown that they can gravitate grassroots politics."

He said they have got tangible support base which people can define.

"You can speak with confidence that anyone who would need a coalition separating the two has no interest to see the burial of ZANU PF in a bitterly contested elections. Tsvangirai has the masses. Mujuru has the Mashonaland rural penetration which we failed for many years. Mashonaland Central, East and West which used to score obnoxious numbers for Mugabe are thoroughly divided. I went to Mushumbi Pools last week in the Zambezi," he said.

"Along the way I was offering people transport from Concession to Mvurwi. From Mvurwi to Guruve. Guruve to Mbire. To and fro I was able to engage with about 20 people. The solidity of people from Mashonaland Central on their faith in Joyce Mujuru is astonishing. All of those I gave lift whether male or female where talking that we want to teach Mugabe and his wife a lesson. They were alleging them of stealing all their land in Mazowe and that they want them out of Mashonaland Central."

Sikhala said this was the most difficult province to penetrate.

"I remember that this is the first province I went personal in command to go and protect our members who were being killed by Border Gezi, Elliot Manyika and Savior Kasukuwere. We had an encounter with Zanu PF for the whole night until we slept at the Mt. Darwin police station. Myself and Elliot Pfebve wanted to address two Rallies in the province in 2000. One in Rushinga first in the morning and another one in Mt. Darwin in the afternoon. We had a team of 400 youths for our security," he said.

"With the information reaching Zanu PF that we have stormed more than 10 roadblocks along the way of police officers who wanted to stop our rallies Zanu PF mobilised itself to attack us. We were forced by the police to sleep at Mt. Darwin Police Station. Yes the more than 400 of us."

Sikhala said the police allowed Zanu PF to mobilise itself the whole night into thousands and encircled us at the Police Station.

"You could hear the sounds of singing outside the police Durawall that the singing was of thousands. Fortunately our command with Elliot Pfebve we had deadliest MDC Youths whom we knew will never lose a battle even against 10 000. Among our mobilising team for the Rally were two young 16 year olds whom I personally talk the art of surveillance and extracting information from enemies" he said.

"You could send them anywhere and bring you the raw information. We gave them some money and paper bags to pretend as of they were going to the Shops to buy bread for breakfast. We told them that they must tell them that they were children of Police Officers in the Camp. Their task was to find out the strength of the Zanu PF contigent outside. They came back after 30 minutes after mingling and singing with them pretending that they were one of theirs. They told us that the Zanu PF strength was around 1500. Our boys were already inching for a fight and confrontation on the basis why Zanu PF wanted to stop our rallies from going ahead."

"Member in Charge of Mt. Darwin whom I understand was later chased away from Mt. Darwin by Saviour  Kasukuwere like a dog after the 2000 elections, addressed us and told us that he was going to escort us back to Harare because ZANU PF wants to kill all of us."