MDC leaders go rural

 


The MDC leadership is engaged in an intensive nationwide rural campaign programme to drum up support ahead of the rural district council elections scheduled for this weekend. The Liberation Team, led by President Tsvangirai, is currently spread around the whole country drumming up support for the party's candidates.
Since last week, President Tsvangirai, vice President Thokozani Khupe, national chairman Isaac Matongo and the rest of the Liberation Team have been virtually camped in the rural areas and will only return to the capital at the end of the week. The President has addressed 16 rallies in Masvingo, Midlands South, Midlands North, Matabeleland South and Matabeleland North since last week. He will wind up his campaign programmes with rallies in Mhondoro, Seke and Domboshava before the end of this week.
The national sentiment is now very clear. Nothing short of chicanery and electoral theft will save this regime from imminent defeat in any election.

The people have been very clear that they are tired of Zanu PF councillors who have failed to develop their local areas. They are tired of Zanu PF councillors who have engaged in corrupt activities and fleeced councils of their little revenue and abused council equipment and machinery. They are tired of Zanu PF councillors who have politicised food aid by denying maize and grain to people of other political affiliations. They are tired of Zanu PF councillors who have failed to articulate their plight and to improve the poor road network in the rural areas. The various council clinics and dip tanks have become white elephants as no service is being offered due to lack of drugs and proper equipment. The Zanu PF councils are not working. The Zanu PF regime is not working. Robert Mugabe is not working. The failure of this government is very visible in the countryside where people are struggling to survive, where the poor roads are death traps and where hospitals have become chambers of death.
There is a national chorus for change in Lupane, Hwange, Chimanimani, Chirumanzu, Zvishavane, Maboleni, Gokwe, Silobela, Chivi, Mhandamabhwe, rural Masvingo and Chiweshe where President Tsvangirai addressed thousands of Zimbabweans who see the MDC as the only source of hope. The signs across the country are that Zanu PF is on its way out. Elsewhere, vice President Khupe addressed 16 rallies in rural Manicaland. In Mashonaland Central, the secretary-general Tendai Biti addressed rallies in Shamva, Guruve and Muzarabani. The national chairman Matongo addressed 23 rallies in Mashonaland East and West.The regime has already been shown the door in Shamva, Bikita, Gokwe and Guruve where our candidates won unopposed after Zanu PF failed to find anyone wishing to represent them.
The MDC is however aware that Zanu PF continues to be locked in a perennial fight with the people. The regime has burnt down the homes of our candidates in Buhera, Mutoko, Mudzi and Gokwe after realising that it is fighting a losing battle with the people of Zimbabwe. The regime has denied food to people suspected to be MDC supporters. The regime has hounded out MDC candidates from their homes in various parts of the country. Elsewhere in the country, we have fielded candidates of high integrity; people who are accountable and who listen to the people. These are people who have surmounted the hurdles and impediments thrown in by the police and the regime to prevent them from filing their papers. Throughout the country, 322 MDC rallies have either been cancelled, disrupted or disorganised by the police on behalf of Zanu PF. These disruptions have taken place in areas where Zanu PF is aware it will lose dismally. But MDC candidates and supporters have weathered the storm. They have managed to circumvent the landmines planted by the regime through intimidation, terror, assaults and political harassment.
But the people's project remains on course. In Chipinge, Kariba, Gwanda, Hwange the people have said they want a local leadership that is accountable and transparent. A local leadership that does not discriminate in food distribution. The MDC is a ready source of such candidates. We are ready to usher in a new era of prudent leadership at local government level. Only electoral theft will save Zanu PF in these elections. Zanu PF is now a musueum piece. The people have already made their point that they want a new Zimbabwe.
Nelson Chamisa, MP
Secretary for Information and Publicity

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