MDC rolls out New Zimbabwe Campaign rallies

On Saturday, the party’s leadership will address rallies at Stodart Grounds in Mbare  at 10am before proceeding to Chemhanza stadium in Dzivarasekwa in the afternoon, where the New Zimbabwe team led by President Morgan Tsvangirai will articulate the trajectory to a new Zimbabwe.  On Sunday, the New Zimbabwe Campaign team addresses a rally in the morning at Mapostori open area in Glen View.   Another star rally is slated for Huruyadzo shopping centre in St Mary’s in Chitungwiza the same afternoon.The New Zimbabwe Campaign is a national outreach programme that will be held throughout the country with special emphasis on rural areas.   300 rallies have been slated for the rural areas up to the end of January. Special attention is being paid to the rural areas to spread the message of change in a new Zimbabwe. The message for the New Zimbabwe Campaign has four components, namely the campaign for free and fair elections, the People’s Campaign to end suffering, the united front and an international campaign for free and fair polls. Through the MDC, the people of Zimbabwe are demanding that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission be reconstituted to undertake a transparent and all-inclusive voter registration and delimitation exercise. The MDC wants a new constitution before the next election and the date of the election that allows implementation of comprehensive reforms and tangible deliverables. The people want international observation and monitoring of the elections at least three months before the poll. The people want equal access to the media as well as all Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to exercise their right to vote. In the event that a new, credible voters roll cannot be put in place ahead of the poll, the MDC wants every eligible Zimbabwean to be allowed to cast their vote upon producing their national identity card as happened in the 1980 elections. The MDC is demanding free and fair elections that represent the legitimate will of the people of Zimbabwe on who should govern them. Another contested electoral outcome is not acceptable for the country and the rallies are the national expression for the people’s demand for a free and fair poll. A people’s campaign to end suffering, which will also be part of the New Zimbabwe campaign, will provide people with the platform to articulate their endemic problems in accessing cash, transport, food, fuel, power, jobs, affordable health care and education. More importantly, this is a campaign to reclaim our dignity and glory as a people. The New Zimbabwe campaign entails the people’s demand for a united front of political parties, civic groups, churches, students and workers to coalesce into a formidable movement to be midwives to a new Zimbabwe and a new beginning. The party is working hard to achieve the unity of all democratic forces in 2008. At the National Council meeting of 16 December 2007, the party resolved to put the people’s aspirations ahead of any artificial cleavages that may derail the democratic train. The New Zimbabwe Campaign will also take an international dimension. There will be an International Campaign where every Zimbabwean based outside country will take part in the demand for free and fair polls. In this campaign, the party appeals to every Zimbabwean, wherever they are in the Diaspora, in whatever they do, to find their own little way of contributing to the sculpturing of a new Zimbabwe by demanding a free and fair election. Zimbabweans are fighting for change. We want a new Zimbabwe which guarantees a secure future for ourselves and our families. We want freedom and economic prosperity. We want a government that can be a source of hope and economic and social progress. We want to restore our pride as a people. 2008 is the people’s year for change, for jobs, for food and for the restoration of our dignity. Collectively, the people can stop their suffering. A New Zimbabwe, a new beginning. This is our year!! Nelson Chamisa, MP Secretary for Information and Publicity