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Mr Morgan Tsvangirai

Prosper Dembedza Harare Bureau
MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday forced his party supporters to chant “yes president” whenever he makes a point in a desperate move to command respect in his beleaguered party.Addressing a handful of his party supporters during a rally held at Chemhanza Grounds in Dzivarasekwa, Tsvangirai demanded from his supporters: “Whenever I talk, I want you to say ‘yes president’ or ‘thank you president’ because that’s the first step to ensure discipline in the party.”

The beleaguered opposition party is facing a potential split after its national council met in Harare last month and endorsed a decision to boycott 14 forthcoming by-elections, a decision which was fiercely opposed by its top officials.

Tsvangira told his supporters that he was not campaigning for anyone, urging his followers not to vote in any election unless “electoral reforms” were put in place.

Tsvangirai claimed his party was being deprived a chance to access the ZBC, which he claimed was the domain of Zanu-PF.

“There’s this song called Rambai Makashinga which was being repeated day-in-day-out on ZBC and I was surprised when I started singing the song while I was going to take a bath. I said to myself ‘ahh, this is dangerous’. That’s how propaganda works,” he said.

Just last month, Tsvangirai barred a ZBC news crew from covering his rally in Masvingo.

He told his supporters: “I saw a ZBC cameraman here and asked him what he wanted at our rally. I told him to leave. ZBC has become a Zanu-PF representative at our expense. I tell you all journalists who are here, you’re going to be answerable one day for what you do, as we’re going to take action.”