This journalist learnt that Youth Assemble members recently witnessed threats and arbitrary arrests of fellow opposition party members in Manicaland and Masvingo. They claim that the campaign period was characterised by threats to life, physical violence, partisan food distribution, vote buying, abuse of the provisions for assisted voters and intimidation by traditional leaders.
“As the young members of former Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai’s lead party we want to send a clear message to the nation. We will no longer stand by idly while ZanuPF supporters victimise and abuse our members,†said MDC-T Youth Assembly spokesperson, Brian Dube.
MDC-T youth assembly chairperson, Happymore Chidziva also declared at a media briefing on Friday that party youths will defend themselves and others against attacks.
“As the party’s future, we are prepared to fight to curb all forms of violence aimed at our members. We have experience in defending the vote. Neither local nor urban members need fear anything in 2018. We will not remain silent while MDC-T members are harassed. We now have the mechanism in place to defend ourselves against all forms of violence,’’ said Chidziva, who is well known in political circles as comrade Bvondo.
The MDC-T youths could not be convinced to reveal these defence mechanisms when they faced a panel of journalist.
“Zanu PF no longer holds the monopoly over using dirty tactics. We are more than capable of defending ourselves. I warn those in the Zanu PF that we plan to remove Robert Mugabe. It is a fact that through protests, the MDC-T youth proved last year that they were more than capable of shaking the corridors of power. We still maintain that the old dictator must fall by whatever means necessary,†he said.
“I am very pleased that the Zanu PF government has finally complied with electoral reform. Now we can gear up to educate voters. We are looking to educate the rural population on the new ways of voting (biometric voting system) and voter registration,†added comrade Bvondo.
Post published in: Featured