by Nobleman Runyanga
Many Zimbabweans have roundly condemned the violent demonstrations which broke out in Harare city centre yesterday resulting in the death of three people. This came out of a snap survey which was carried out in the capital by the Harare Post this morning.
“While the MDC Alliance members have a constitutional right to protest and express their concerns and advance their own causes, this should not be an excuse to loot, vandalise property and dispossess vendors of their wares,” said Wilbert Mapanga of Mabvuku.
Some residents condemned the leadership of the Alliance for inciting violence during their campaign rallies last month.
“(MDC Alliance leader, Nelson) Chamisa threatened unspecified action if the alliance did not win the just-ended election. The same goes for (MDC Alliance partner, Tendai) Biti and (MDC T Chamisa faction youth leader) Happymore Chidziva and other leaders. Democracy is about using elections to select popular leader and this involves winning and losing. What kind of a democratic movement responds to electoral losses with violence?” queried Precious Manyamba of Chitungwiza on her way to work.
Harare residents were also irked by the MDC Alliance’s decision to protest against and accuse the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of rigging before the full set of election results had been announced.
“Tell me, what was Chamisa and his cronies’ basis for directing their people to protest before ZEC had finished announcing the election results? The people of Zimbabwe expressed their choice and the opposition should just respect that. They have undone themselves by disrupting the ongoing electoral process and, going forward, they will have very few people, both local and international, fighting in their corner on this one,” said Peter Chara of Greendale.
Other people were not happy with the MDC Alliance senior members’ sponsorship of the violent demonstrations through supplying the protestors with alcohol and drugs from the MDC T Chamisa faction’s Harvest House headquarters.
“You incited people, Patson and are responsible for what happened today. There is footage of the guys saying you paid them, gave them drugs & alcohol, then asked them to go “start something”. You may be a brother, but for what happened today you must account to a judge!” tweeted journalist Maynard Manyowa to MDC T Chamisa faction member and activist, Patson Dzamara.
“Can we stop encouraging people to go and do violence...while we are behind (computer) keyboards? Dying is not good, please. It’s not a game. There are things which we say on twitter which can cause death. So please think twice before you tweet,” pleaded another resident who chose anonymity.
The MDC Alliance’s violent demonstration came against the background of a very peaceful election season, which the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the SADC Parliamentary Forum and the African Union (AU) observer mission teams a clean bill of health and a thumbs up.
