MASVINGO – The Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) led by Joice Mujuru has attributed the failure of recent social media-coordinated demonstrations on poor coordination saying the organisers have no powers, outside of political parties, to mobilise people.
The party says organisers of those protests need to rope in opposition parties because they have a solid following.
ZimPF says Zanu PF has become immune to poorly organised and attended demonstrations by activists who are out to make money than fight for a cause.
Recent attempts by such pressure groups like #ThisFlag, #Tajamuka and #ThisFlower to organise mass protests against the government have largely failed.
Giving reference to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) successful mass demonstration held in Harare a few months ago, ZimPF national spokesperson Jealousy Mawarire said it is high time Zimbabweans mature if they want to send a message to a regime that has imprisoned them.
“We cannot continue repeating things that have failed. These activists have no capacity to mobilise people for a meaningful demonstration. People cannot be mobilised on social media, you do not do that.
“This is the reason why there is always poor turnout at all the demonstrations organised outside political parties. It is high time we become mature and engage organisations which have followings like the church and various political parties,” said Mawarire.
He said private citizens have no capacity whatsoever to mobilise people for a meaningful demonstrations.
“Let us rope in everyone and agree on modalities. The political parties have to be part of all the demonstrations since they command most of the people. We should desist from relying much on social media because it will not change anything.
“Just because you are a Mawarire and good at recording a video with your phone does not mean you can mobilise people. The shutdown which happened on August 6 was not a doing of any online activist but only coincidence came to play hence they claimed responsibility,” Mawarire said.
The August 6, 2016 demonstrations, dubbed the ‘National Shutdown’ were spontaneous citizen-driven protests whose success was attributed largely to the efforts of now exiled #ThisFlag leader, Pastor Evan Mawarire.
Mawarire said people should learn from Itai Dzamara who failed to rally people behind him and should look to political parties since most of the activists lack resources.
Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) president Dr Takavafira Zhou added his voice saying the social media movements are giving confidence to the regime that they can crush demonstrations.
“We are equally to blame for the crisis we have at hand. We have become competitors for donor appeal rather than work for a better Zimbabwe. You cannot organise a demonstration where a handful of people come, the police will beat you.
“The police will not beat people if they turn out in their numbers. It is time to be sober-minded because Mugabe will not be intimidated by a small group of people,” said Zhou
He added that opposition parties should work on a coalition now because Zanu PF is like an octopus which can resurrect towards elections and win again.news

ZVISHAVANE – Mkoba Member of Parliament (MP) Amos Chibaya said President Robert Mugabe should be in good health until 2018 to witness his heaviest defeat by Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T).
The outspoken MDC-T legislator was speaking at his party’s much awaited rally which was finally held in Zvishavane after it was blocked for five consecutive times by the police.
An attempt to hold a High Court-sanctioned rally earlier this month was violently broken by police and seven MDC-T members were arrested.
The seven were however freed by the Zvishavane Magistrate’s Court with lawyers from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights arguing that the police had no genuine case and had acted illegally by disrupting a duly-sanctioned event.
Chibaya said the ruling Zanu-PF had created a mess and had promised to create jobs yet jobs are still being lost and the economy is in trouble.
“Zanu PF has run out of ideas. Out of the 2.2 million jobs they promised, Mugabe has just managed to create one job; that is for his son in-law Simba Chikore at Air Zimbabwe.
“Where are the other 2 199 999 jobs? What we want is Shabanie Mine and Sabi Gold Mine to reopen,” said Chibaya.
He criticised the government’s plan to avert the cash shortages by printing bond notes which he said will not solve any of the country’s deep-rooted economic problems.
 “Now, Zanu PF wants to take us back to 2007 by printing money which they are calling bond notes. How on earth can you print money when you are not producing? Bond notes are not a legal tender,” he said.
Speaking at the same rally which was attended by about 2000 people MDC-T Midlands South province’s Francisco Masendeke thanked the counts for sanctioning the rally and encouraged the youth to register to vote.news

MASVINGO – Opposition political parties have lamented the devastating impact that Zanu PF’s brutal rule has had on Zimbabwe saying it is worse than cancer and that the revolutionary party will not let go of power until they destroy and loot every resource left in the country.
Zimbabweans, the critics say, had high hopes for a better life at the attainment of independence from the British but were hit with a harsh reality that sometimes it is better to hug and kiss a hyena than be friends with a wolf in sheep clothing.
Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) national spokesperson, Jealousy Mawarire said Zanu PF has looted from the people and robbed future generations of a brighter future.
“Zanu PF is a disease which has affected many Zimbabweans and I tell you it is worse than cancer. They have no remorse whatsoever for corroding the welfare of the general populace.
“The people in Zanu PF are looting the little resources left in the country with a passion. They are well aware that they have no future in politics hence they are scrambling to steal and secure their future,” said Mawarire.
He said the people thought that the regime will open up gates of opportunities but rather it opened up its pockets and they started distributing wealth amongst themselves.
“Zanu PF has a conference in December in Masvingo and they managed to raise $3.5 million in just three hours while it takes them forever to raise funds to complete the Tokwe Mukosi dam. It just shows the lack of seriousness and commitment to the people.
“Maybe it is the $15 billion that went missing which is just being pumped out,” said Mawarire.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) spokesperson Obert Gutu said Zimbabweans never attained total independence because they are still being held captive by their fellow countrymen.
“What pains the most about the current state of affairs is that the people we thought liberated us are the ones who are suppressing us the most. They have ruined and rundown everything in their path.
“They have looted and stolen everything within their reach. The money which is being spent by Zanu PF in just one week is enough is enough to feed the whole drought stricken province for two months.
“While the Zanu PF elite will be feasting, wining and dining during their conference, about two million hungry villagers in Masvingo will be scavenging for their next meal. Greed and selfishness has taken over Zanu PF and are sucking the life out of ordinary people,” said Gutu.
Meanwhile, the war veterans led by Christopher Mutsvangwa have given President Mugabe a final chance to mend fences with them by dumping G40, a Zanu PF faction which they say is a cancer waiting to inflict further damage onto the country through massive looting.news