Zimpapers Logo

Nduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor
THE Mr Nelson Chamisa-led MDC Alliance has allegedly forced party structures from outside the capital to attend today’s planned demonstration in Harare failure to which they won’t be allowed to contest for any position at next year’s congress.

The party has reportedly not footed any transport bills but has ordered all members in party structures to find their way to the capital for the protest.

“We are being force marched to Harare for a demonstration tomorrow (today), no resources have been allocated but we have been threatened that those who are in the structures who fail to attend the demo would be barred from contesting for any post at the congress,” said a disgruntled member from Bulawayo yesterday.

“This is sad because we are being forced to use the little money we have to attend a demonstration instead of fending for our families, we do not even know where we will sleep in Harare after that demo.”

Another member said they were scared of a possible outbreak of violence.

‘What guarantee do we have that the demo would not turn violent like what happened on 1 August? Participation in the demos should be voluntary and not a force matter as is happening now,” said the member.

Contacted for comment, the party’s Bulawayo provincial chairperson Mr Gift Banda denied allegations that they were forcing members to participate in the demo.

“We are participating in a demonstration in Harare as Bulawayo province in line with the party’s resolutions. No one is being forced to travel to Harare as this is a voluntary exercise,” he said.

Mr Banda confirmed that members were funding themselves to Harare.

The is the first demonstration after the August 1 post election violence when MDC Alliance supporters unleashed an orgy of violence in Harare leading to the death of six people, injury to scores and destruction of property worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

President Mnangagwa, after his inauguration, appointed the commission of inquiry into the August 1 violence led by former South African President, Kgalema Motlanthe.

Appearing before the Commission on Monday, Mr Chamisa disowned his party supporters.

“Those who were demonstrating or protesting were not doing so on the instruction of the MDC, its organs, or its leaders,” he said.

“I don’t own people,” he said. “Once a person destroys, he is a criminal and should be arrested.”

Two weeks ago, Mr Chamisa described the demonstrations as stupid and uncalled for in a desperate attempt to cleanse himself of blame for the post-election violence.

“In fact how would I incite people on the 31st when I was waiting for the elections elsewhere and I was sure that they were going to declare the proper results and I was ready to go to State House.

“How does a person who is ready to go to State House find time to incite people and mobilise people to go and burn cars of a country that you want to run. Why would I do that?

“You are talking about an election that has not been declared and why would I even react because I don’t know the election that will be announced.

“It was very stupid even for the people who demonstrated to demonstrate for the results to be released, it was stupid because they then opened themselves for attacks and for manipulation,” said Mr Chamisa.

“I think who ever demonstrated, they have their right, but I feel that it was not called for and that is my view, I’m not insulting them but I have a right just like any other because it was premature, it was unstrategic and open to be manipulated by the enemies of the people and the enemies of peace, the merchants of violence, the arch bishops of violence.”