Khupe says mass demostrations against regime now inevitable

By Tichaona Sibanda
07 April 2006

MDC Vice-President Thokozani Khupe believes it’s now inevitable that Zimbabweans will take to the streets soon to demonstrate against mounting government failures.

In a nation ravaged by unemployment, food shortages, hunger and corruption Khupe said the mass demonstrations would be a sign of outpouring of rage against the country’s slide towards chaos.

She said everyone in the country was geared for any action and that people have gone through untold suffering at the hands of Mugabe so they are not afraid of the regime anymore.

Speaking ahead of a major rally to introduce the new party leadership on Sunday at the White City stadium in Bulawayo Khupe said they were not worried about reports suggesting the Zimbabwe Defence Forces have been put on high alert to counter any protests.

‘Everyone in this country has suffered under this government, including soldiers and policemen and because of that each and everyone of us is capable of standing up and saying enough is enough without being pushed to do so,’ said Khupe.

Zimbabwe Defence Forces chief General Constantine Chiwenga is reported to have told Mugabe on Tuesday that soldiers need a salary raise if he wanted to secure their support in the event of an opposition-led mass revolt.

ZimOnline said sources told them Chiwenga was speaking to Mugabe at a briefing before Mugabe’s departure on Wednesday to Singapore, at which Mugabe had demanded to know the forces’ state of preparedness to crush mass protests the opposition has threatened to call this winter.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai will use the White City rally to explain in detail about the planned demonstrations as well as introduce the new leadership of the party.