By Takunda Chimwaka
The US Embassy has pledged to fund nationwide demonstrations expected to rock the country, fronted by ZCTU and Citizen Manifesto pressure groups.
A source who spoke to the Harare Post revealed that, the US embassy met with ZCTU president Peter Mutasa and Briggs Bomba of Citizen Manifesto, where the duo were tasked to organise yet another series of demonstrations against the said economic crisis in the country.
According to the source, the nationwide demonstrations would be fully funded by the US Embassy.
“The US embassy shifted their attention from the MDC’s failed demonstrations and decided to try another chance with ZCTU and Citizen Manifesto.
“MDC was highly incapacitated in organising meaningful demonstrations due to its administrative inefficiencies coupled with misuse of donor funding, which frustrated the US Embassy,” revealed the source.
The source restated that the US Embassy lost hope in other pressure groups notably #tajamuka, #this Flag and ARTUZ citing that they were mere social media activists which lacked concrete groundwork mobilisation as compared to ZCTU.
“The US embassy also commended the efforts made by Citizen Manifesto in September where they converged all residents associations, pressure groups and civic society organisation for a broad based National Dialogue on the way forward of Zimbabwe,” indicated the source.
Meanwhile, an insider in the ZCTU opined to Harare Post that, generally there is fatigue amongst ZCTU members to participate in any demonstration organised by the organisation.
According to the insider, ZCTU members expressed on their administered Whatsapp Chat Groups that, demonstrations were yielding no meaningful results except being tortured, abducted and victimised by Police and Army.
“ZCTU members are resorting to stay aways more than street protests where they have also highlighted politicians were in the habit of hijacking their organised demos to which they do not participate but direct in the comfort of their homes,” added the source.
US Embassy seeks to capitalise on the already agitated citizenry and on-going strike by doctors who also make part of the civil service by engaging Citizen Manifesto and ZCTU.
