GWERU – The MDC marked its 9th Anniversary at a colourful ceremony held at Mkoba Stadium in Gweru on Sunday, where over 35 000 people came to celebrate the occasion.
The theme for this year’ celebrations was “Together to the end, Celebrating the People’s Victory”.
Addressing the mammoth crowd, MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai said his party was still negotiating with Zanu (PF) to end the current political and economic crisis in the country.
“We celebrate the courage of the people of Zimbabwe who on 29 March with one resounding voice on their demand for change,” Tsvangirai said, thanking the people for voting for him and the MDC in the March harmonised elections.
The president said the talks had reached a deadlock, as Zanu (PF) was not being sincere in the negotiations.
“I will not betray you. We are the real winners and it is better for us not to have a deal than to have a bad deal,” he said to thunderous applause.
He dismissed reports from certain quarters that he was demanding a transfer of power, when in fact the MDC’s position was that Robert Mugabe should be the head of State while Tsvangirai attained the post of head of Government.
“Our position is that we cannot be given responsibility without authority. In any case, the whole issue is not about the signature of Morgan Tsvangirai, it is about the signature of the people of Zimbabwe who want food, jobs, better health care and education,” he said.
“As long as that signature is not going to unlock the crisis and to resolve the people’s expectations, there will not be any deal. We cannot be pushed around because we have the people on our side. We are saying no to half measures and bad deals.”
He said Zanu (PF) had demonstrated that it was not sincere in the negotiations as MDC MPs and members continue to be persecuted by the regime.
Currently four MDC MPS are in remand prison after they were arrested on trumped charges of causing political violence in the run-up to the 27 June 2008 sham presidential run-off.
Vice President Thokozani Khupe, secretary-genera Tendai Biti and the Speaker of Parliament and national chairman Lovemore Moyo also addressed the crowd.
Post published in: News