Upenyu Chaota
BIKITA – The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) said it is ready for the Bikita West by-elections saying it will do anything possible to ensure that Zanu PF lose the seat.
Though the Morgan Tsvangirai led party said it will not field a candidate to contest in the Bikita West by-election, MDC-T said it will support any candidate, be it independent or other opposition parties.
MDC-T national executive member Takanayi Mureyi told TellZim News in a wide ranging interview that the MDC-T is willing to work with anyone who wants to see Zimbabwe a better place.
“We are ready for the Bikita West by-election; we supported Temba Mliswa in Norton and we gave Zanu PF a bitter pill to swallow. As the MDC-T we are still pushing for electoral reforms and we will not participate in these elections until these demands are met.
“However, if there is a progressive candidate who believes they can stand up and challenge Zanu PF, we offer our full support. If they are independent then it means they are independent from MDC-T and supporting them does not mean we agree on everything but we will settle for the goal to remove Mugabe and his Zanu PF from power,” said Mureyi.
While the nation awaits for the announcement of the date of the by-election, no independent candidate has come forward for the seat but the Joice Mujuru-led Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) has shown interest and is likely to field Kudakwashe Gopo to face Zanu PF’s little known Beauty Chabaya.
“The struggle to bring change to Zimbabwe is not only about Tsvangirai and the MDC-T. The whole country should stand up and demand change. The MDC-T is ready to lead the people who make themselves available.
“We do not want to lead people who cry from hidden corners and are afraid to make the necessary sacrifices of getting into the streets to demand a better future from Zanu PF. People have a problem of going to churches of Magaya and Makandiwa to seek the gospel of prosperity and think they are cheating God.
“God is punishing us because we have failed to stand up against tyranny. People sacrificed their lives when they went to war to demand our Zimbabwe. Mugabe knows he is presiding over cowards that is why he does the things he does. The level of sacrifice among Zimbabweans is still very low and we are not ripe yet,” said Mureyi.
Mureyi said Zanu PF will not even contemplate using violence in the Bikita by-elections because the people are now aware.
“Zanu PF knows this time around that it is dealing with an awakened public. Gone are the days they used to beat up people and get away with it. Now we will fight back and for every one person they beat, we double the number in retaliation,” Mureyi said.
On bond notes, Mureyi said the problem is not about the introduction of the controversial surrogate currency but the conditions that led to the current crisis.
“It is not about the bond notes. It is not even the fault of the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe governor John Mangudya because he is just doing what he thinks is best to ease the cash shortages.
“We used to have enough money in this country. Where did it all disappear to? Zanu PF stole all the money and that is why we have to fight Zanu PF and not waste energy on bond notes,” said Mureyi.news
