Planned demonstrations by the Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T) suffered a major blow amid revelations that residents associations and the country’s biggest trade union, have distanced themselves from the mass action.
MDC-T is planning mass demonstration to protest against continued deterioration of the economy under Zanu PF leadership.
Mainstream media had reported that Tsvangirai had received a major boost after Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) had pledged to take part in the mass protests.
Not long after the reports of CHRA and ZCTU joining hands with MDC-T, the two organisations denied the reports saying they were not affiliated to any political movement.
ZCTU Secretary General Japhet Moyo, denied the allegations that his organisation had plans to join MDC-T in the mass protests against the government for failure to deliver the economy.
“We never showed any interest in the demonstrations, we have our own processes which we use to when partaking mass action.
“My office is responsible for organising any mass actions and we never agreed to join the so-called protests march,” he said.
The MDC-T leadership said it will be on the forefront of the demonstrations as a symbol of their commitment to make the government accountable for its promises to create more than 2 million jobs.
Combined Residents Association (CHRA) senior official Mfundo Mlilo said they had planned their own peaceful form of engagement that has nothing to do with MDC-T.
“MDC-T is keen to take advantage of our organisations large constituency to publish their agenda to all our members in Harare,” he said.
The dropping out of these organisations totally hinders the progression of mass protests because they will be very few people demonstrating who can be easily suppressed.
“If a few people protest, they will be easily dispersed by the police and the impact will be minimal,” said Sean Chingwende who is a Harare MDC-T supporter.
The pulling out of these organisations who are believed to be sympathetic to the MDC-T is a major blow to the opposition party as this will discourage many people from taking part in the mass action. It remains to be seen if Tsvangirai will succeed considering that previous attempts at protesting for jobs by the party’s youth assembly were heavily crushed by the police.
