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MDC leaders address nationwide consultative rallies
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
October 19, 2009

President Morgan Tsvangirai led a team of MDC leaders at the weekend in the on-going feed-back and consultative rallies that were held across the country briefing party supporters on why the party had suspended cooperation with Zanu PF.

Addressing over 15 000 people at Checheche Business Centre in Chipinge South, Manicaland province, on Saturday, President Tsvangirai said the MDC was disengaging from Zanu PF until that party stopped violating the Global Political Agreement (GPA) and implemented all the clauses it had been stalling.

"We are not pulling out of the inclusive government. If we disagree with other principals in the inclusive government, we will consult the people on the way forward because they have the mandate to make us stay or pull out. Mugabe and Zanu PF should not however fool themselves and misjudge our tolerance for ignorance," he said.

At the rally, attended by thousands of people including chiefs, headmen, the old and the infirm, President Tsvangirai said the MDC was disengaging from Zanu PF because the MDC was the party with the people's mandate and would only withdraw from the inclusive government if Zimbabweans say so.

"We want to deliver real change to the people of Zimbabwe. What we have been able to achieve in the past seven months is just but a drop in the ocean. We can do more and that's what we are going to do. As a party and as a leadership we have a genuine commitment to deliver real change to the people of Zimbabwe," he said.

He encouraged the people to be strong and not to listen to rumours that the MDC would be 'swallowed by Zanu PF'.

"There is no majority party (MDC) that can be swallowed by a minority party (Zanu PF). The MDC is a majority party. It moved from being an opposition party to a ruling party. It is the people who delivered victory to the MDC as a party in the March 2008 elections," he said.

He also reminded the people that the new Constitution would give the country truly democratic reforms.

On Sunday, President Tsvangirai was at Muzokomba Business Centre in Buhera also in Manicaland province, where he said one of the major aims of the inclusive government was for the country to join the community of nations.

"We must end the isolation. Zimbabwe must be back in the family of nations," said President Tsvangirai while addressing another mammoth crowd at Muzokomba.

He also said there was need for the people to evaluate the progress that had been made in the inclusive government since its formation in February.

"As we meet today, we should evaluate the progress or lack of it of the inclusive government as a nation. Because of the unfaithfulness of our partners in the inclusive government, we are disengaging from working with Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party in the coalition government."

In Bulawayo, Vice President, Hon. Thokozani Khupe held a meeting with MDC district structures to explain why the party had disengaged from Zanu PF.

"Unless and until the outstanding issues are resolved, we are disengaging from Zanu PF and not from government because this government is ours and we can not walk out of it until the people say so. We are not going to Cabinet because that is where we meet Zanu PF, we want to reach destination Zimbabwe and with a new constitution we are certain to get there," she told over 2 000 MDC officials gathered at the Small City Hall in Bulawayo.

Addressing the same meeting, the MDC national chairman, Hon. Lovemore Moyo, who addressed another consultative meeting in Matobo on Sunday, said although the party had taken the position to disengage from Zanu PF, consultations would continue to establish the people's position on the MDC's continued participation in government.

"We are disengaging and not pulling out because we have not achieved real change for Zimbabwe and its people.

"We will not take the people for granted. We want to serve the people and therefore we are saying we will work with the people to get guidance.

On Sunday, the MDC secretary-general, Hon. Tendai Biti addressed two rallies at Gokwe Mapfungautsi and Gokwe Sesame that were attended by thousands of people.

Hon. Biti said the changes that had taken place in Zimbabwe since the formation of the inclusive government had shown that the MDC could democratically govern the country.

"The MDC can govern this country as we have seen many changes and great development within the seven months we engaged in the transitional government," he said.

However, he lamented the lack of development in Gokwe district and said it was sad to note that the people were still drinking water from unprotected wells.

He said the MDC was working hard to ensure that the next elections were free and fair and that the people would never again be abused like what happened last year when over 500 MDC supporters were killed by Zanu PF and State security agents.

However, he castigated the lack of the rule of law in Zimbabwe.

"We are being arrested on trumped-up charges in this transitional government, our MPs are being persecuted, they are delaying swearing in Senator Roy Bennett and our own provincial governors have not been appointed.

"That is why we issued a yellow card to Zanu PF last Friday," he said.

In Mwenezi East, Masvingo province, the MP for Sunningdale in Harare, Hon. Margret Matienga and Masvingo Central, MP, Hon. Tongai Matutu addressed a rally at Ward 2, Rata.

Hon. Matutu said the people of Mwenezi had been hoodwinked by Zanu PF for nearly 30 years and it was now time for the electorate to show Zanu PF the exit door.

"Mugabe and his cronies are busy glorifying themselves about the achievements of the past forgetting that the hands of time are spinning.

"There are more pressing issues that have to be tackled instead of being told of the glory of the past. Youths are jobless and villagers are poverty stricken. These are the matters that have to be resolved immediately but Zanu PF is ignoring them. This is why we need a people-driven Constitution to address the concerns of the people," said Hon. Matutu.

A total of 37 MDC feedback and consultative rallies were held across the country at the weekend.

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