Upenyu Chaota
A newly formed pressure group #Zimbabwe Yadzoka/Mayibuye iZimbabwe has taken to the grassroots particularly the rural communities across the country to encourage people to register and vote despite the frustrations over alleged vote rigging by Zanu PF in previous elections.
#Zimbabwe Yadzoka/ Mayibuye iZimbabwe, a youth driven movement, says Zanu PF has frustrated the electorate so much that no one believes in the ballot system for change anymore, hence there is need to encourage people to register and vote in the 2018 elections.
#Zimbabwe Yadzoka/ iZimbabwe Mayibuye national chairperson Victor Chimhutu, said they are targeting people in rural areas who have fallen prey to Zabu PF’s political violence and intimidation to go and register for voting so that they can exercise their voting right.
“#Zimbabwe Yadzoka is a social movement which represents the down down-trodden, the poor, the marginalized and the peasants among many marginalised communities in the country.
“We focus mainly on rural, marginalised communities which have not been part of the national political discourse for a long time probably during the Second Chimurenga. We are non-political and non-partisan, our membership are people who love Zimbabwe.
“Our demands are simple. We demand President Robert Mugabe to step down immediately. We demand opposition parties start coalition talks in case Mugabe does not heed the call to step down. We educate the people of Zimbabwe to know that after voting it’s their right to protect their vote,” said Chimhutu.
He added that they are teaching a new political culture which is to say the people are the ones with power and not vice versa.
“What we concentrate more on is meeting the people and we believe if people demand a grand coalition why will politicians ignore those demands, who are they serving? From our gatherings and outreach programmes, people are overwhelmingly demanding a coalition and politicians have to listen otherwise they risk a backlash,” Chimhutu said.
Quizzed whether a grand coalition is possible especially when opposition forces are still dragging their feet ambiguously saying they are willing to work together but without a hind on coalition talks, Chimhutu said a grand coalition will guarantee Mugabe’s defeat and opposition has no choice but to give in to the demands of the people.
“That problem is not coming from the people, it’s a problem among politicians. If you look at their policy and positions, there are no ideological differences between and among these leaders of progressive forces. So like you rightly noted their problems are of personal nature and nothing to do with the suffering masses. They have to make a choice on whether to fight from the corner of the people or continue to massage their big egos.
“If they do not heed the coalition call from the people, we will condemn them into the abyss of history. More than ever we are presented with a perfect opportunity to reclaim our country and people will not allow that opportunity to pass,” said Chimhutu.news
