The sitting Member of the House of Assembly in Masvingo urban, a segment of the former Masvingo Central constituency, Tongai Matutu, is confident that short of a stolen election the Movement for Democratic Change will emerge victorious in the harmonized elections that will be held this Saturday 29th March 2008. Speaking to Wezhira on Wednesday, Matutu said this election would not only produce surprises for the ruling party but would also usher a new era where the MDC would assume the reigns of power.
“We have been holding meetings in the wards where the purpose was not to canvas for support but to encourage the electorate on the need to cast their votes. The other reason for the meetings was to educate the electorate about the number of ballot papers which they will receive and the need to vote correctly. The groundwork was done a long time ago and there is no reason why the MDC should lose this election,” Matutu said.
Matutu added that the ruling party could take the rural electorate for granted at its own risk as voting patterns would certainly show displeasure with the party which has failed dismally to address pressing issues that have adversely affected the general populace for a long time.
“Issues that used to affect the urban population have now crossed over to the rural areas. Businesses have not only come to a standstill but have actually closed down. The rural folk have now resorted to buying from the same black market that is thriving in the urban centres. They are now acutely aware of the need to change the current system and bring in a new government that will change their fortunes for the better. Only fools can take it for granted that they are guaranteed of these people’s votes after failing to address their bread and butter issues for such a long time. Without naming constituencies we are guaranteed of victory in a number of them in the rural areas. Masvingo urban is a foregone conclusion and there is no question about it,” Matutu said.
Speaking with confidence Matutu said the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, would undoubtedly form the next government in the country. He was adamant that short of stealing the election the ruling party had no chance of winning the election.
“I have personally forwarded a formal complaint to the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) after members of the uniformed forces approached me informing me that they had refused to vote through the postal ballot since they could not vote for candidates of their choice. It had also come to my attention that some of the forces were victimised in previous elections after their superiors had opened their postal ballots and discovered that they had voted in favour of the opposition. This time around we have said there shall be no polling stations in areas where people cannot cast their votes in a free atmosphere. As such no polling stations are located at army barracks,” he said.
Matutu said the government had put some members of the police force on high alert in a way which showed that they were already aware of the outcome of the election. Members of the police Support Unit, Riot Squad and the Army have been prominently present in the city in the last few days. A recent snap survey by Wezhira also showed that most of the districts in Masvingo Province had shifted their allegiance to the opposition ahead of this Saturday’s general election.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Makoni Blasts Land Reform Programme
Former ZANU-PF politburo member and Finance minister Dr Simba Makoni dismissed the government’s agriculture mechanization programme phase three as a mere political gimmick aimed at luring supporters ahead of the elections.
Addressing a fairly attended star rally in Masvingo at Mucheke stadium last Saturday, Dr Makoni told the gathering that the people of Zimbabwe should be empowered so that they could be able to buy their own equipment instead of relying on government handouts.
Dr Makoni attacked the government accusing the government of favouritism when dealing with resources that should be distributed on the basis of merit and competence.
“After all the equipment is only given to ZANU PF sympathizers. If you are not ZANU PF no matter how good you are in farming, you won’t access the equipment. Even the food has become ZANU PF ‘campaign material’ as you have to produce membership cards to get it”,said Dr Makoni.
“I realized that I could no longer walk in darkness and on February 5, I preferred to follow the light,” said Dr Simba Makoni referring to the day he announced his plan to stand as an independent presidential candidate.
Apart from being uneconomic and illogical, Dr Makoni said that mechanization programme had cultivated great enmity among the general populace across the whole country.
“If the whole village is supposed to share one scotch cart, what would happen if they all want to use it at the same time? Isn’t that seeding hatred among the people? All that should be done is to create an environment where people access what they want on the market. It becomes unfair if there are no ploughs, scotch carts, fertilizers and all agricultural equipments on the market yet a few people are getting all that from a government” he said.
Dr Makoni lamented the fact that equipment was only made available at the end of the season instead of the beginning of the season where it could have helped boost production.
“What ZANU PF is doing is to reward their friends and relatives. The presidential scholarships now target their children. If you are not a ZANU PF supporter, no matter how intelligent you are, you will never get the scholarship,” he said.
Dr Makoni promised to carry out a land audit that would take land from multiple owners, resuscitate the health sector that has collapsed and to get the country’s economy on recovery path among other issues.
Addressing a fairly attended star rally in Masvingo at Mucheke stadium last Saturday, Dr Makoni told the gathering that the people of Zimbabwe should be empowered so that they could be able to buy their own equipment instead of relying on government handouts.
Dr Makoni attacked the government accusing the government of favouritism when dealing with resources that should be distributed on the basis of merit and competence.
“After all the equipment is only given to ZANU PF sympathizers. If you are not ZANU PF no matter how good you are in farming, you won’t access the equipment. Even the food has become ZANU PF ‘campaign material’ as you have to produce membership cards to get it”,said Dr Makoni.
“I realized that I could no longer walk in darkness and on February 5, I preferred to follow the light,” said Dr Simba Makoni referring to the day he announced his plan to stand as an independent presidential candidate.
Apart from being uneconomic and illogical, Dr Makoni said that mechanization programme had cultivated great enmity among the general populace across the whole country.
“If the whole village is supposed to share one scotch cart, what would happen if they all want to use it at the same time? Isn’t that seeding hatred among the people? All that should be done is to create an environment where people access what they want on the market. It becomes unfair if there are no ploughs, scotch carts, fertilizers and all agricultural equipments on the market yet a few people are getting all that from a government” he said.
Dr Makoni lamented the fact that equipment was only made available at the end of the season instead of the beginning of the season where it could have helped boost production.
“What ZANU PF is doing is to reward their friends and relatives. The presidential scholarships now target their children. If you are not a ZANU PF supporter, no matter how intelligent you are, you will never get the scholarship,” he said.
Dr Makoni promised to carry out a land audit that would take land from multiple owners, resuscitate the health sector that has collapsed and to get the country’s economy on recovery path among other issues.
MDC Tsvangirai attracts huge crowd
Mr Morgan Tsvangirai, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) main faction leader proved his popularity in Zimbabwean politics last Sunday when his star rally at Mucheke Stadium attracted over 15 000 people.
A few hours earlier at the same venue Dr Simba Makoni held a star rally at the same venue that attracted slightly above 5000 people.
Analysts said Tsvangirai attracted more people at Mucheke Stadium than Makoni as he already had put some structures on the ground.
Even the old people at the MDC rally said they had never witnessed an opposition party attracting a huge crowd like what happened on Sunday.
Addressing people, Mr Tsvangirai said that victory was certain as Zanu PF has been exhausted of all ideas that can help the people.
“No one in his right senses would vote for Zanu PF. Zanu PF have nothing new to offer the people. MDC is the only party which has the solutions to the current crisis. What 25 years of war failed to do, Zanu PF’s 25 years of ruling did the worse,” he said.
Speaker after speaker blasted the ruling party for incompetence and being accountable for the economic collapse in the country.
With the country on its knees, Mr Tsvangirai believes that the forthcoming elections are just a formality as God has already approved his victory.
“Rwendo rwuno hazvikoni nekuti ndezvashe,” ( this time it’s inevitable because it is of God), he said.
Mr Tsvangirai ruled out the election cheating and rigging processes saying that some senior members from Zanu PF’s high ranks have already tipped him on how to guard against rigging.
He also said that senior Zanu PF officials approached him on several occasions praising him for giving pressure on President Mugabe saying that Zanu PF is already split because most people in the ruling party also need the change of government and are ready for it.
“They come to me and encourage me to unleash more pressure on Zanu PF. They are tired of Zanu PF themselves and they even tip me on how to guard against election rigging,” he said.
In the new Zimbabwe, Mr Tsvangirai promised free primary education, respect of the rule of law, opening investment opportunities, professionalism among all civil servants and restoration of dignity of the people of Zimbabwe.
Within the first two years in office, Mr Tsvangirai’s government would make sure that a new constitution which is people driven will be effected.
“Most people think that I will recruit new police, soldiers and CIOs. No. I will only make sure that these people become more professional and be satisfied with their salaries. I will upgrade their living and working standards.
“All problems will be solved in the first two years,” Mr Tsvangirai promised.
Despite being exposed into direct sunshine, supporters interviewed said that they never regretted going to the rally. The MDC held a number of successful rallies across Masvingo province during the weekend.
A few hours earlier at the same venue Dr Simba Makoni held a star rally at the same venue that attracted slightly above 5000 people.
Analysts said Tsvangirai attracted more people at Mucheke Stadium than Makoni as he already had put some structures on the ground.
Even the old people at the MDC rally said they had never witnessed an opposition party attracting a huge crowd like what happened on Sunday.
Addressing people, Mr Tsvangirai said that victory was certain as Zanu PF has been exhausted of all ideas that can help the people.
“No one in his right senses would vote for Zanu PF. Zanu PF have nothing new to offer the people. MDC is the only party which has the solutions to the current crisis. What 25 years of war failed to do, Zanu PF’s 25 years of ruling did the worse,” he said.
Speaker after speaker blasted the ruling party for incompetence and being accountable for the economic collapse in the country.
With the country on its knees, Mr Tsvangirai believes that the forthcoming elections are just a formality as God has already approved his victory.
“Rwendo rwuno hazvikoni nekuti ndezvashe,” ( this time it’s inevitable because it is of God), he said.
Mr Tsvangirai ruled out the election cheating and rigging processes saying that some senior members from Zanu PF’s high ranks have already tipped him on how to guard against rigging.
He also said that senior Zanu PF officials approached him on several occasions praising him for giving pressure on President Mugabe saying that Zanu PF is already split because most people in the ruling party also need the change of government and are ready for it.
“They come to me and encourage me to unleash more pressure on Zanu PF. They are tired of Zanu PF themselves and they even tip me on how to guard against election rigging,” he said.
In the new Zimbabwe, Mr Tsvangirai promised free primary education, respect of the rule of law, opening investment opportunities, professionalism among all civil servants and restoration of dignity of the people of Zimbabwe.
Within the first two years in office, Mr Tsvangirai’s government would make sure that a new constitution which is people driven will be effected.
“Most people think that I will recruit new police, soldiers and CIOs. No. I will only make sure that these people become more professional and be satisfied with their salaries. I will upgrade their living and working standards.
“All problems will be solved in the first two years,” Mr Tsvangirai promised.
Despite being exposed into direct sunshine, supporters interviewed said that they never regretted going to the rally. The MDC held a number of successful rallies across Masvingo province during the weekend.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
