Supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change party of Nelson Chamisa protest alleged election rigging in Harare, Zimbabwe on August 1, 2018 [Philimon Bulawayo/Reuters]
In early March, ZPP recorded violent clashes between youths affiliated to the MDC Secretary General Douglas Mwonzora and those affiliated to the party president Advocate Nelson Chamisa during ward elections in Chitungwiza. As a result of these clashes, some ward and district elections were postponed.
This violent behaviour is not new as the party has experienced episodes of violence during its primary elections in the run up to the 2018 harmonised elections. At the funeral of the late MDC-T president, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai, the then vice president Thokozani Khupe and Secretary General were attacked by party youths and had to seek refuge in a hut; which the youths threatened to torch.
ZPP is concerned by the continued violent trajectory by the MDC. The organisation condemns all forms of political violence and political intolerance which compromises sustainable peace in Zimbabwe. ZPP believes that the party leadership can be instrumental in putting this deplorable behaviour to an end and ensure perpetrators are brought to book. ZPP calls upon all political parties to rein in their supporters to promote peace, tolerance and respect of human rights.
The Constitution of Zimbabwe in Section 67 (1b) gives every Zimbabwean citizen the right to make political choices freely. The MDC must allow its supporters to freely make their choices as they prepare for the elective congress.
Post published in: Featured
The only thing democratic about MDC leaders and members is the name of the party otherwise the party members are about as democratic as the North Korean leaders are democrats regardless of the country being called Democratic Republic of North Korea!
The tragedy is that the MDC should continues to command some following regardless of the party’s failed to not only up hold democratic values but worse still to deliver even one democratic change in all its nearly 20 years on the political stage. The large following only goes to show the electorate themselves have risked life and limb for democratic change and yet they have no clue what these changes are.