MDC MPs to boycott Mugabe’s “hollow speeches” at Parliament opening

By Tererai Karimakwenda

24 July 2006

The Tsvangirai led MDC Members of Parliament have announced that they will not be present at the official opening of parliament on Tuesday, because Mugabe’s usual speech at the occasion has nothing to do with the people of Zimbabwe. MDC vice president Thokozani Khupe said: “I think everybody is aware that the people of Zimbabwe have gone through untold suffering for the past 26 years and we can’t be seen as MPs to be gracing this occasion while the people out there are suffering.” Khupe added that the people of any country have a right to demand from the government that is ruling them what they believe are their legitimate entitlements. She explained that MDC MPs will be consulting with the suffering people of Zimbabwe, instead of attending parliament.

Khupe also released a statement which said Mugabe “has often delivered empty promises to the people when it is clear his government has neither the concern nor the solutions to solve the worsening multi-layered crisis in the country.” She told us Monday that every sector from education, the economy, health and agriculture has deteriorated. For this reason she said: “ We cannot be seen to be sitting there listening to Mugabe misleading the nation. And if you look at what has been happening since 2000 with his state of the union addresses, it’s one and the same old story. You know inflation is going down, everything is OK with the land. But if you go on the ground and see what is happening the opposite is true.”

Khupe’s statement said the MDC MPs will continue to attend parliamentary sessions but will not sanitize Mugabe’s cheap political grandstanding. Many of our listeners have suggested in the past that the opposition should withdraw from parliament altogether because nothing is being achieved there or in the newly formed senate. Khupe told us this sentiment has been expressed by their membership and by Zimbabweans in general. She admitted there is a point to be considered and said this issue needs serious discussion and consultation.

The MDC vice president then repeated her party’s demand for a new democratic constitution which would lead to free and fair elections to bring about accountable leadership and a free Zimbabwe.

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