by Claver Nyuki
The MDC’s National Shutdown spells a case of déjà vu in the Zimbabwean political landscape, a sign showing that the opposition is fast running out of ideas and becoming monotonous.
The events leading to the August 1 incident are deplorable and the same sequence seems to be transpiring now. First the MDC calls for a National Shutdown and promises everyone who cares enough to listen that it is going to be a peaceful demonstration, only for the MDC to do what it knows best, violence.
Reports circulating on social media have confirmed that violence has already broken out with most suburbs in Harare and Bulawayo being the most hit.
The rowdy MDC youths instigating the violence even attacked some Zimbabwe Republic Police stations, torching Police vehicles and buildings, forcing the Police to use teargas to disperse them and in some incidences, rubber bullets.
In Chitungwiza, the word is some are barricading the roads with burning tyres to prevent anyone from travelling to work and some school teachers were assaulted for being found at their work stations, why force people to partake in your demonstration, is that democracy??
Violence is in the MDC’s DNA and one cannot help wonder if the Shutdown was not just an excuse to engage in heinous crimes as reports are that some Choppies and OK Supermarkets were broken into and groceries looted. Even the tollgate along Masvingo road was burnt to the ground with the intention of looting money.
The MDC leadership is mum on the issue and have not issued a statement condemning the violent behaviour of its members, a clear indication that the leaders are behind the violence currently engulfing in the country.
The violent nature of MDC, its history of unaccepting defeat, and assaulting anyone of a differing opinion, even if it’s one of their own is well documented.
Who does not remember the attack on their prodigal son, Tendai Biti, and Elton Mangoma after he suggested that it was time for the late Morgan Tsvangirai to hand over the party reigns, seeing that he had overseen four electoral defeats, or the attack on Trudy Stevenson.
Former party Vice President, Thokozani Khupe and the current Secretary General, Douglas Mwonzora had to take refuge in a hut at the burial of Tsvangirai after some MDC youths attacked and threatened to kill them because Khupe highlighted that she was the rightful heir to succeed Tsvangirai.
The MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa, whom it seems, has successfully managed to bulldoze his way to the party leadership, if reports are to be believed has some skeletons in his closet. Social media reports are that he has a violent past and may even have contributed to the death of a family member, the authenticity of the information is not very clear but then again there can never be smoke where there is no fire.
It’s time that the MDC accept that the party lost in the 2018 harmonised elections and take up the offer by President Mnangagwa and Government to partake in the nation rebuilding than destroying property which will need replacing. Zimbabwe needs to move on and create a conducive environment to prosper, but the MDC seems hell bend on derailing the country’s progress in tackling the economic challenges it is facing.
