By Staff reporter
A plot has been hatched by an international civic society organisation in collaboration with the MDC, to stage demonstrations against President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the on-going 39th SADC Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government being held in Tanzania.
The Harare Post had it on good authority that International Republican Institute (IRI), Zimbabwe chapter, has put in place a scheme to embarrass President Mnangagwa, the incoming Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, and the Tanzanian President, John Magufuli. The two are viewed as strongmen in the SADC region.
A source privy to the plot said IRI was approached by the MDC to fund its demonstrations pencilled for the 16th of this month. However, IRI suggested that it could only sponsor demonstrations that can be staged at SADC Summit.
“The MDC was then tasked to identify activists who can travel to Dar salaam to stage the demonstrations. IRI pledged to fund the trip. It is the same organisation that suggested 16 August as the date for the MDC demonstrations.
“The idea is to make the local demonstrations coincide with the SADC Summit which commenced on 5 August and ending on the 18th of this month. As demonstrations spark here, the hired activists will be also picketing the Summit venue, giving an impression that the country is on fire,” said the source.
The international organisation, the source said, had also instituted similar plan in Tanzania where activists have been hired to target and vilify President Magufuli, the incoming SADC Chairman.
“A delegation of three officers from IRI Zimbabwe is in Tanzania right now where they are discussing on the modus operand of the demonstrations with their Tanzania counterparts. The demonstrations will begin a day before the target gives his speech. The tempo will then escalate on the day of his speech,” said the source.
He said most of the assembled activists were MDC activists from Chitungwiza, Budiriro, Mabvuku and Norton. A company owned by MDC National Youth Assembly Organising Secretary, Godfrey Kurauone is printing materials to be used during the demonstrations.
Meanwhile, the MDC has also formed a group called Zimbabwe Citizens for Democracy that will spearhead demonstrations against President Mnangagwa at the United Nations General Assembly scheduled to begin on 21 September. Several WhatsApp groups have been created to mobilise Zimbabweans based in the US to join the demonstrations.
