Christopher Makaza.
Distressed MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa snubbed his party`s weekend Hatcliffe rally after he got wind that the event was poorly attended.
Only 600 out of the expected 9000 people attended and were very disappointed about Chamisa`s absence.
The party`s Deputy National Chairperson, Job Sikhala professed ignorance as to why Chamisa did not turn up as per plan which further infuriated people and some of them were head saying Chamisa was slowly becoming a sell-out.
One attendee who spoke to this publication said, “We are not happy, more so after we patiently waited to be addressed by the president and he just decide not to turn up. We are no longer sure if we are still together in this struggle with our leader because leaders can sometimes betray the struggle. Nyathi akatengesa wani kuhondo,” he said.
He added, “We also hear that Chamisa is discouraging us from staging demonstrations to push this regime out of power, we don’t understand why? It is quite disturbing that we hear rumours that he is pleading to meet Mnangagwa. What is it that they want to discuss? We have since resolved to remove this regime from power through demonstrations.”
Chamisa has made a sudden U-turn on the issue of demonstrations following pressure from his West masters who directed him to pursue dialogue that will result in the formation of Government of National Unity (GNU) and subsequently push for reforms from within the government.
Sikhala, however, urged members to prepare for massive demonstrations to be staged soon. He said it was fortunate that the new MDC leadership is youthful so it is going to stage demonstrations similar to the 1976 Soweto uprisings of South Africa.
In a move that shows that there are contradictions within the opposition party, MDC Secretary for Presidential Affairs Morgan Komichi discouraged people from taking part in any demonstration that is not sanctioned by the party`s president.
“We will pursue dialogue not violent protests, however, we need that dialogue to be facilitated by a foreign mediator. Our expectation as MDC is to have a GNU similar to the 2009-13,” he said.
Meanwhile, the MDC National Youth Assembly Chairperson, Obey Sithole, while addressing a belated Day of the African Child commemorations in Kadoma recently urged youths to brace up for demonstrations. He said the party had decentralised the demonstrations, thus he urged the youths in their respective areas to storm Zanu PF HQ, Provincial and district offices with petitions demanding the immediate resignation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Sithole said the MDC would make sure that President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF do not complete their terms of office.
Speaking at the same event, Mashonaland West Provincial Deputy Chair, Tendai Kokera urged members to collect as many old tyres as they could to burn during the demonstrations.
