MDC mourns tragic loss of lives

STATEMENT – The MDC would like to express its deepest and heartfelt condolences to the families of 24 passengers who perished in the fatal bus accident that took place Sunday morning along the Harare-Nyamapanda highway.

We join the families of the deceased and the entire nation in mourning the tragic and unnecessary loss of life that continues to wreck havoc on the country’s dilapidated highways.

Over the years, the Zanu PF regime has been neglecting the country’s roads and highways resulting in the virtual collapse of our tarred road network. As a result of this perennial neglect, there is virtually no tarred road in the whole of Zimbabwe that is not littered with huge and dangerous potholes.

The country’s highways have been converted into death traps on which thousands of commuters lose their lives year in and year out.

A few weeks ago, the MDC issued a public statement in which we resolutely condemned the Zanu PF regime’s plans to introduce 32 more tollgates in the country’s roads at a time the Zimbabwe national Roads Authority (ZINARA) is bogged down by chronic mismanagement and unprecedented corruption leading to a massive pilfering of the money that is collected from the country’s existing tollgates.

Furthermore, in an act of brazen contempt for the people of Zimbabwe, the Zanu PF regime has been routinely looting the Zinara coffers in order to fund the expenditure of its bloated and ever expanding bureaucracy.

It is high time that this rogue and illegitimate regime is called to order. The Zanu PF regime should appreciate that the long-suffering people of Zimbabwe have had enough of this wanton and unbridled corruption. Enough is enough!

As the country’s largest popular political party, the MDC would like to stress that only a legitimate and responsible government can be in a position to rehabilitate the country’s collapsing road infrastructure in both the rural and urban areas, as well as on the national highways.

The Zanu PF administration was formed after the rigged and stolen harmonized elections that were held on July 31 2013. Naturally, the people of Zimbabwe cannot expect a rogue and illegitimate regime to care about their daily trials and tribulations.

The MDC would like to take this somber and sad occasion to re-assure the downtrodden citizens of Zimbabwe that the darkest hour is just before dawn. Zanu PF is collapsing and we should take this as a clear indicator that the end of this evil regime is beckoning.

An MDC government will ensure that all toll gate fees are used responsibly and for the right purpose, that is, to repair, rehabilitate and construct roads in both rural and urban areas. The people of Zimbabwe should remain focused and resilient. Victory is certain

MDC: Equal opportunities for all

Obert Chaurura Gutu
MDC National Spokesperson