by Claver Nyuki

…while grassroots lament leadership vacuum

MDC Leader, Nelson Chamisa has admitted that the August 16 demonstrations were a failure and that if the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) had allowed the demonstrations to go ahead, they would have greatly exposed the party.

Chamisa made the utterances during a closed door National Executive Committee meeting at Morgan Tsvangirai House over the weekend.

“I would like to thank the ZRP for issuing that prohibition order against our demonstrations because it led to those violent clashes that put us on the limelight while exposing ZANU PF as undemocratic.

“If the demonstrations had been allowed to go ahead, it would have exposed us because people did not react as we would have hoped plus the lack of funding and organisation would have badly exposed us,” he said.

Chamisa also claimed that the party had been infiltrated by hostile elements who are giving ZANU PF intelligence which is enabling them to pre-empt MDC programmes and moves.

He said, “We also have people who are giving Mr Mnangagwa and his party information which is giving ZANU PF an upper hand as they are able to pre-empt our programs and plans.”

Speaking in the same meeting, MDC Treasurer General, Chalton Hwende said that the party would no longer be calling any more demonstrations but would support those organised and called by Civic Society Organisations (CSOs).

“As a party we shall not be calling anymore demonstrations but will continue to support demos called by CSOs. Everyone should wait for a signal from the leadership after the party’s anniversary celebrations on 14 September 2019,” he said.

During the plenary session at that party’s Harare Provincial Executive meeting, Deputy Organising Secretary, Happymore Chidziva asked the attendees to give their thoughts on why there was a luckstre response to the party’s call for demonstrations.

The general consensus from the attendees was that the leadership is failing to lead from the front. The attendees accused the leadership of putting the people in the firing line while failing to safe guard party member’s safety during demonstrations. They said every National Standing Committee member would be required to lead a demonstration in his home area.

The admittance by Chamisa and senior party members that the demonstrations were a failure shows that the general public has lost appetite in these demonstrations and realise that the MDC leadership is only interested in power than the welfare of its party members.