Civic leader urges co-ordinated protests in Zimbabwe

By Lance Guma
12 May 2006

Within days of police warning him about engaging in ‘subversive’ acts Bulawayo Agenda leader Gordon Moyo has defied the threats by calling on all civic groups to unite for coordinated protests in the country. He says the current sporadic demonstrations by women’s groups, students and NCA members were good for building momentum but there is need in the near future to conduct them simultaneously.

Moyo insists the security forces in the country do not have the resources and manpower to deal with countrywide protests. He cited fuel shortages as another factor that could reduce their capacity to deploy in response. Asked when the protests should be organised he said ‘Issues of democracy are not for sprinters, these are issues for long distance runners. If you sprint in a marathon you will faint.’ Bulawayo Agenda believe people should allow the process to shape itself and not force things.

‘The current demonstrations taking place are tributaries flowing into a bigger river.’ That bigger river Moyo argues will be when ‘the entire population stands up.’ He says soldiers and policemen are also suffering in Zimbabwe and their stance should not be taken for granted by any of the power brokers. Bulawayo Agenda say they received figures from the Public Services Commission last week which showed that police and soldiers were amongst the lowest paid civil servants in the country. ‘Only those at the helm are enjoying the cake Mugabe has provided.’

He believes Zimbabwe should learn from the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa where student demonstrations against Bantu education ended up combining with worker and consumer protests. According to Moyo these groups played a decisive role in ending apartheid. ‘In the past months people had coiled back but now they are flexing their muscles,’ and Bulawayo Agenda believes the day everyone stands up at the same time, will be the day their freedom comes. Opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has called for what he terms ‘a cold season of short sharp democratic resistance.’ It remains unclear when and how this will be effected but the euphoria continues to build in the country.