Natasha Justin and Misheck Shambare

It’s over a month now since opposition political party MDC-T announced plans to stage mass protests against the Zanu PF government.

The planned demonstrations also suffered a huge blow when perceived MDC-T allies, Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) and Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) pulled out saying they were not politically connected to any party in Zimbabwe.

This is despite earlier media reports that ZCTU and CHRA had earlier indicated that they will join the anti government mass protests.

MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai had also indicated that he will personally lead the demonstrations in the front to force the government to account.

A week after the announcement, MDC-T supporters led a march with no senior party officials that was easily crushed by the police because they were said to be disturbing traffic movement and did not have a police clearance.

MDC-T spokesman, Douglas Mwonzora, told The ZimSentinel that, planned demonstrations are still going on despite none being resumed for nearly a month.

“We have gone silent about the march for now because we are preparing for our forthcoming congress. We cannot do two things at a time as we have put all our focus on the congress,” he said.

Zimbabwe Democracy Institute Director Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya also shared the same sentiments with Mwonzora that the demonstrations will go on as planned.

‘It’s not like they had set a particular date, the demonstrations are still on’said Dr Ruhanya.

“I am sure once the congress is over the demonstrations will be on,” he said.

Dr Ruhanya also added that the Zimbabwean environment already has the conditions for protests which are the eminent liquidity crunch, youth unemployment and poverty.

Political analyst Blessing Vava said the successful holding  of the intended marches was in jeopardy considering that the MDC-T camp is not in order.

“The jostling of positions and external dynamics in the MDC-T will make it difficult for the marches to be successful.

“Another thing, the split by MDC renewal further weakened the party so it will be difficult for them to cope with the demonstrations,” he said.

Mwonzora however cleared the air saying that CHRA and ZCTU do not need to take part in the demonstrations because they are not MDC-T.

“This is an MDC-T project, whether CHRA and ZCTU take part or not it is up to them,” he said.

The planned demonstrations were also discouraged by United Family International Church (UFIC) Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa’s prophesying that planned mass demonstrations will result in bloodshed and Prophetic Healing and Deliverance founder Walter Magaya  in unison with the prophesy.

Considering that UFIC and PHD have a huge following of supporters some of them MDC-T supporters who listen to their prophets, it may prove a dent for the planned demonstrations.

However, Douglas Mwonzora did not have kind words for the prophets as he labelled them as machinations of the ruling Zanu PF.

“Magaya and Makandiwa are abusing the word of God because they are being used by Zanu PF to forward its agenda to shoot down the demonstrations,” he said.

Nevertheless the general public have different views towards the proposed anti-government march by MDC-T.

“Demonstrations are allowed in the new constitution, its freedom of expression, so I do not have any problem joining the mass demonstrations,” said Charity Muleya a student from National University of Technology (NUST).

Frank Moyo, a student from the Midlands State University (MSU) said he has no reason to join the protest.

“I have better things to do than going for a demonstration that won’t make a change, this is Zimbabwe, and where the freedom of expression and association is not given to the public,”

Some women vendors in Harare expressed disgust and questioned why the MDC-T had taken forever in planning the demonstrations.

“I no longer see any hope towards the planned demonstrations,” said a vendor who identified herself as Mai Tinashe.