 Morgan Tsvangirai: Analysts said while the huge crowd estimated at 25 000, which thronged Sakubva Stadium on Saturday reaffirmed Tsvangirai’s grassroots support, the MDC leader’s most important task now was to transform this support into votes if he is to lead his party to victory next month. Related Articles
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01 March 2008
By Njabulo Ncube (Fingaz Political Editor)
MOVEMENT for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai launched his party’s campaign in Mutare on Saturday, marking the beginning of what is promising to be an incident-packed election period as the main political parties go all out to win the hearts and minds of the electorate ahead of the March 29 plebiscite.
Analysts said while the huge crowd estimated at 25 000, which thronged Sakubva Stadium on Saturday reaffirmed Tsvangirai’s grassroots support, the MDC leader’s most important task now was to transform this support into votes if he is to lead his party to victory next month.
They said an alliance with former finance minister, Simba Makoni, might also bolster the opposition’s campaign. Buoyed by the overwhelming turnout, the former trade unionist pledged to drive President Robert Mugabe out of office in the March 29 polls and revive the tottering economy. On Saturday, Tsvangirai unveiled a 33-page manifesto replete with economic, social and political policies he said he would introduce within 100 days of taking office.
“This election, more than any other, is about the total reclamation of our dignity, our country, our decency, our pride and our trust as a people,” said Tsvangirai.“To make this possible, the only option is change for a new Zimbabwe and new beginning.” Tsvangirai said in its first 100 days in office, an MDC government would provide jobs, free primary education, free treatment and care for those suffering from HIV/Aids, embark on an immediate integration and reconciliation programme embracing all Zimbabweans, and restore “real money”.
Turning to the emotive issue of land reform, he said his government would undertake an audit of all current land occupation patterns, and roll out a comprehensive land and agrarian reform programme emphasising the importance of productivity and food security, to ensure that not a single Zimbabwean goes to bed hungry. He envisaged trimming the number of ministries to 15, while diplomatic embassies would be drastically reduced to save foreign currency.
George Charamba, President Mugabe’s spokesman, this week dismissed the manifestos unveiled by the opposition saying they only served to further the interests of former colonial master Britain and the United States, which have been critical of Harare’s human rights record.“Read ZIDERA and you will know who the father of Tsvangirai and (Simba) Makoni is. Their land policies betray their parentage, and are direct extracts from Section 5 of ZIDERA, word for word in many respects,” he was quoted saying.
“Both (Tsvangirai and Makoni) are tantalised by the US$20 million waved by (US President George W) Bush in 2001.” he added. ZIDERA is the acronym for the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act 2001 introduced by the United States to punish President Mugabe and his ruling elite for ruining what used to be Africa’s most most promising state. Applauding the MDC’s manifesto, political analyst Takura Zhangazha, said Tsvangirai had every reason to be buoyed by the enthusiastic demonstration of support he received over the weekend.
Tsvangirai had appeared to be fading from the limelight with the entry of former finance minister Simba Makoni into the presidential race. That was until last Saturday, when he reaffirmed his support with more than 25 000 party supporters making their way to Sakubva Stadium for the launch of his presidential campaign despite the show of force by heavily armed riot police who patrolled the length and breath of Mutare.
“You should bear in mind that the majority of these people voluntarily attended the rally. This has buoyed the opposition.“But Tsvangirai and his party need to translate the huge attendance into votes on March 29,” said Zhangazha.“The manifesto is excellent in that it covers all the key items civic society organisations have been clamouring about, especially the need for a new people-driven constitution.” Tsvangirai said an MDC government would create a legal and political environment in which Zimbabweans, through a participatory process, would craft a new constitution.
A new constitution would most likely be introduced within two years of an MDC government coming into power. Zhangazha said: “This is in sync with the views of civic society and what the ordinary people are demanding, which is change.” Gorden Moyo, executive director of Bulawayo Agenda, a pressure group, said the high attendance indicated that the ordinary people still supported the MDC and Tsvangirai, despite the damaging backlash caused by the 2005 split.
“The Saturday showing is a formidable statement and a demonstration of support for the MDC by the ordinary people.“The middle class had created confusion since Makoni came to the fore, but this shows that the middle class are arm-chair activists and not supporters of change in the country,” said Moyo. “ What now remains to be seen is how that huge attendance is translated into votes.“Unfortunately, most people did not register to vote or check their names because civic society is not allowed to undertake voter education,” he said.-Fingaz.
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