Tsvangirai descends on Norton

Main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai will descend on Norton this weekend to thank the electorate for voting Zanu PF out in a recent by-election in the dormitory town despite the uneven political playing field riddled with allegations of vote buying and violence.

Tsvangirai, through his spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka, said he will address voters in Norton on Saturday to praise the people “for defying all odds and teaching the Zanu PF dictatorship a lesson that they cannot continue to take them for granted”.

Zanu PF lost the Norton Constituency to an independent and former party stalwart Temba Mliswa in a hotly contested by-election last month against the ruling party.

“The leopard has not changed its spots in terms of holding free and fair elections, but the MDC leader will thank the people for braving the heavy odds staked against their free expression.

“The MDC leader will explain in detail the reforms that should be instituted to pave the way for the free expression of the people through the ballot,” said Tamborinyoka in a statement issued on Wednesday 16 November 2016.

The MDC-T said it will urge people to register to vote when the process is opened in the near future as promised by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

The MDC and other political parties under the banner of the National Election Reform Agenda have maintained that they will not participate in elections “until and unless comprehensive electoral reforms are implemented in the country”.

President Robert Mugabe last month criticised the Zanu PF leadership for allowing a “thief” Ronald Chindedza, to represent the party in the by-election resulting in the party’s humiliating loss.

The Norton constituency fell vacant after war veterans’ leader Christopher Mutsvangwa was expelled from Zanu PF for alleged insubordination and belonging to a faction. Nehanda Radio