Opposition leaders Morgan Tsvangirai and Joice Mujuru today fled a protest rally in their cars as riot police battled protesters calling for electoral reform ahead of the 2018 elections, international news agency Reuters reported today.
Tsvangirai and Mujuru were due to lead the protest called upon by 18 opposition parties under the umbrella organisation the National Electoral Reform Agenda which was granted permission to hold the protest march by the High Court.
Some activists were appalled by the opposition leaders’ behavior according to comments posted in the Kubatana newsletter today.
“I’ve just seen the programme for today’s Mega Demo. No wonder political party leadership didn’t seem worried that “permission” for the demo was only given for 12-4pm. They were only due to get there at 12:30. It was the rest of us who were expected there from 8am! Don’t know about you, but when I host a party I make sure to get there before my guests arrive . . . In the #ZimbabweIWant there is respect for people. Leaders are servants. They don’t keep people waiting. They don’t summon their “followers” hours in advance and then swan in. They arrive first, pave the way and lead from the front,” wrote someone only identified as Amanda
“Just this morning I was saying to someone that if anyone could get people to march down First Street with him it would be Morgan Tsvangirai. I take it all back. I’m hearing that he wasn’t anywhere to be seen at 8am to help launch the Mega Demo. There were some people there though – those brave enough to take on the tear gas and the uncertainty of the situation. If Tsvangirai doesn’t have either the charisma or the leadership to encourage and lead his supporters to come out in their ‘masses’ for a demo in downtown Harare, his capacity to govern this country is under review,” wrote Bev.
“NERA Demo poorly organised. Civic groups like #Tajamuka and #ThisFlag organise better. Next time leaders must engage them,” said WhatsApp subscriber.
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