by Tendai Matunhu
MDC party members have revealed that the party is planning to hold several unsanctioned demonstrations using pro-MDC student unions as well as secondary and primary school students across the country, the Harare Post can reveal.
Speaking to this publication on condition of anonymity, one MDC official revealed that the MDC will capitalise on the dissention within the tertiary students to whip them into the streets when the institutions open in two months’ time. The students are complaining over the hike of school fees which they say are out of their parents’ reach. Tertiary institutions have hiked fees to an average of $7 000 per semester against government’s cap of $5 000.
The source further revealed that several meetings are being held between students’ representatives and party members at Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House on how best to orchestrate the demonstrations.
The MDC Youth Assembly secretary general, Gift Ostallos Siziba, has been tasked to give guidance and organise the demonstrations which will take place simultaneously at all institutions.
According to the source, MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa bought the idea which was sold to him by the youth leaders. However, some MDC top leadership are said to be against the idea.
He went on to say that the MDC is also working with Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) to rope in rural teachers, primary and secondary school students so that they participate in the demonstrations emulating Njube High School demonstration which was initiated by their teacher, Brian Mutsiba.
According to the source, the party is also planning on holding several sporadic demonstrations across the country in fulfilment of Chamisa’s utterances that 2020 will be a year of demonstrations.
During the 2018 poll victory celebrations for MDC’s Mbizo legislator, Settlement Chikwinya in Kwekwe, MDC organising secretary, Amos Chibaya announced that the MDC would take to the streets to register their displeasure over the worsening economic situation in the country without seeking permission from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
However, an insider source revealed that some MDC members are fast losing appetite in confrontational politics. He said they were now questioning why Chamisa was being selfish and failing to swallow his pride and engage in dialogue with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
