Tsvangirai tells his supporters: I heard you all

I heard you about the new society you want us to create; a society underpinned by unity and togetherness, growth, peace and development.

It is that solidarity that will enable us to bravely march into the future; the solidarity of a united community. I was charmed by the sight of a glued community working in unison in Binga even after the tragedy of lightning had struck and killed those innocent souls at a funeral.

That unity defines us. We always rise or fall collectively as a people!

All the people who made invaluable contributions during my tour, I heard you; the despondent artisanal miners in Redcliff, I still carry your voices with me. The pensioners, men and women who spoke in impassioned voices about the desperate need for a new governance culture in our country, I can assure you your words made a lasting impression on my spirit.

To all those resolute families that sunny afternoon who stood in defence of their rights as our private meeting was invaded by armed riot police in Nyamakate in Mashonaland West, I salute your courage.

To the patriotic Zimbabweans with whom I enjoyed a meal in Hauna, those patriotic chiefs and headmen in Plumtree and that courageous woman, vaChihera, who spoke with passion and courage in Chimanimani West, I will not forget your conquering spirit.

The forsaken elders in Mukumbura; traumatized by both the Smith regime and the Mugabe regime of the freedom fighters you clothed and fed, I assure you I still carry your touching concerns that we will address in the new dispensation that is now almost upon us.

Fellow Zimbabweans, what was soothing was that we all agreed that 2018 is a perfect opportunity for the nation to start afresh; to build a new country and gather the broken smithereens of our scattered hope. It was comforting that regardless of all your legitimate and genuine grievances against this regime, you still hold the hope for our country and its future; that 2018 shall be the year we all start afresh.

To the youth and the students with whom I conversed, remember you are the real stakeholders of the future. You must shape that future, your own future, by participating in the politics of your country. Remember we agreed that the onus is upon you to register to vote, to vote and make your voice count and to secure and defend that vote. You cannot outsource your future to anyone.

Fellow Zimbabweans, I want to assure you that I heard you all.

Henceforth, the decisions I will make both before and after the next watershed election shall be shaped and informed by the very rich engagements that I had with you in the past one-and-half months.

To the old man in Binga, your wise words to me, said with passion and conviction, will always ring in my mind: “Don’t follow in Mugabe’s footsteps!”

At a personal level, you all shaped me. I want to assure you that your rich contributions will guide me and shape the decisions I will be making going forward.

Yes, I heard you all, my fellow countrymen and countrywomen.

Thanks for the memories!

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