by Innocent Mujeri

Pop-up demonstrations organized by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) that occurred last week and yesterday in Mabvuku and Mufakose respectively, flopped as only a handful of people turned up for the illegal demonstrations, The Harare Post can report.

The planned MDC demonstrations in Mabvuku and Mufakose were snubbed with only 40 MDC hooligans turning up for the demos and the rest of the people went about their businesses and refused to participate.

A source who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity, said the few people who turned up for the two illegal demonstrations were those who were paid money to do so.

“We are tired of being used mukoma. If we demonstrate and get arrested its our families who will suffer. So, we have resolved to demand payment first before we get into the streets. Variku demonstrator ndivo varikudya (those demonstrating are the one being paid),” said the source.

Another MDC supporter who only revealed his first name as Tafadzwa, said gone are the days when the MDC leaders will just command people to go into the streets to demonstrate.

“Mass demonstration is risky as we end up having running battles with the Police where we also risk being arrested or beaten up. So, we told SG (MDC Secretary General Charlton Hwende) that they must give us at least US 300 per demonstration so that we may get into the streets with something in pocket. If they can’t pay us then they will have to get into the streets themselves as we don’t want to be used, “said Tafadzwa.

One MDC supporter only identified as Gladys dismissed yesterday’s pop up demonstration in Mufakose as a money-making ploy by the MDC leadership.

“You know the party depends on donor funds and they must be seen to be doing something in order for them to attract donor funds. The demonstrations are meant to convince donors that the MDC is doing something on the ground. Moreover, the guys whom you see demonstrating are those who are being paid and if you monitor closely you will see that the same people who demonstrated in Mabvuku last week are the same who demonstrated in Mufakose yesterday.

MDC in recent times is failing to attract large numbers of people to their illegal demonstrations and they have since resorted to dishing out cash to entice people to participate in the demonstrations.

Last week MDC youths were up in arms with Job Sikhala for failure to pay up the promised funds after they had participated in illegal demonstrations in Harare. Sikhala promised to pay US 300 to participants but later dished out ZW$300 which did not go well with the MDC youths.