Tsvangirai wows Manicaland

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday praised Manicaland for its support of his party and said he was looking forward for similar support in the 31 July elections because Manicaland had never abandoned the noble fight for democracy.

“I want to thank you the people of Manicaland for providing us with iconic heroes such as (Herbert) Chitepo, Ndabaningi (Sithole) and Edson Sithole, Chief Rekayi Tangwena and his wife Ambuya Matadzisei Tangwena and many other heroes who sacrificed so that we can build a better Zimbabwe where democracy flourishes. We are here to revitalise that dream.

“This why Manicaland has never abandoned the noble fight for democracy because you have always known that independence without freedoms is useless. This is the reason you have supported the MDC since its formation. Manicaland has never strayed from that cause,” Tsvangirai said at a rally at Sakubva Stadium.

According to the results of the first round of the 2008 presidential elections, Harare and Manicaland, were the key to Tsvangirai’s victory. He got more than 36 percent of his votes from the two provinces, garnering a total of 439 195 votes.

This was more than what Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front leader Robert Mugabe got from six provinces. Mugabe’s votes for Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Matebeleland North and Matebeleland South only totalled 437 636.

The tables were, however, reversed in the June run-off though Tsvangirai had pulled out. In Harare, 95 000 more people voted for Mugabe than had done in March pushing his tally from 61 215 to 156 478.

The situation was worse in Manicaland. More people voted for Mugabe in this province than any other pushing his tally from 141 592 to 323 264.

Below are the reports from the MDC information department in their own words:

President Tsvangirai addresses thousands at Sakubva Stadium

Mutare – A strong crowd of thousands of MDC supporters today converged at Sakubva Stadium in Mutare to hear President Tsvangirai’s 31 July presidential victory speech as the MDC prepares to form the next government after the coming harmonised elections.

MDC supporters from all the districts in Manicaland province attended the rally.

Like at the launch of the MDC elections campaign on Sunday, 7 July, the people of Zimbabwe showed that they have made their choice.

They came in their multitudes and painted Sakubva stadium RED, including the elderly and the young who made a bold statement that come 31 July, the people of Zimbabwe will vote for change.

In his speech, President Tsvangirai said the MDC government will focus on reviving the industries that were destroyed through Zanu PF misrule.

“There is opportunity of creating more jobs in the timber industry and other agriculture based products in Manicaland because the sole objective of the MDC is to open all closed down companies, not only in Manicaland province but the whole of Zimbabwe,” said President Tsvangirai.

He said the number one enemy in Zimbabwe was poverty, starvation and under-development.

“Let us not look at personalities, but let us look at facts of what is on the ground. The MDC does want power for power’s sake. We want to lead this country with a progressive plan.

“Our first promise is the culture of good governance in this country. We want a country that has a free people. But that freedom cannot come if people are living in fear, are ever prone to violence and always checking their backs on who is behind them,” said President Tsvangirai.

He said the MDC was not here to exchange vitriol with Mugabe and his dying Zanu PF but to explain to the people of Zimbabwe how best the MDC will move the country forward to a new Zimbabwe with jobs and a better life for all.

“We want to have a culture of consultation, where the people are able to contribute to what they want and what is best for Zimbabwe. We want to grow the economy, not to share and destroy what is there. The people of Zimbabwe want new opportunities for new wealth. We promise to focus on reviving the industries that were destroyed,” said President Tsvangirai.

Turning to agriculture, President Tsvangirai said the MDC’s policy was aimed at ensuring that Zimbabwe’s food security at any given time is guaranteed by making sure that the farms are fully productive and also providing employment opportunities to the people of Zimbabwe.

“Those who got farms, know that you got them to farm and to be productive. As the next government, the MDC will ensure that you will farm productively and feed the nation,” said President Tsvangirai.

On infrastructure development, President Tsvangirai said the next MDC government would ensure that dams, roads, railways are fully functioning all year round while on social services delivery; the President said the MDC government will ensure that every child in primary school goes to school for free.

“A government that does not care, cannot be trusted by the people,” President Tsvangirai said.

“That is why we want to be able to care for the disabled, the widowed, orphans and disadvantaged through proper pro-people policies,” he said.

Turning to the murky diamond mining in Chiadzwa, President Tsvangirai said the MDC and the people of Zimbabwe wanted to know where the diamond revenue was going as the revenue was not being remitted to the Treasury.

“Over 100 000 jobs can be created in Zimbabwe if the revenue was properly accounted for. If it is remitted, we will be able to pay the civil servants, not for the revenue to benefit a few Zanu PF aligned elites,” he said adding that schools, clinics and hospitals should be built using that money.

“That is why devolution in the new Constitution implies that each province should be in control of decisions to deal with their problems and resolve them at the local level,” said President Tsvangirai.

On the 31 July harmonised elections, President Tsvangirai said he was confident that in the face of the coming elections, the only objective is to give Zimbabweans a breathing space and that he will deliver that to the people for them to live a better life in a new Zimbabwe.

“It may be hard, but I am thankful that we are all committed to cross the Red Sea until victory is assured.”

“I want to thank you the people of Manicaland for providing us with iconic heroes such as (Herbert) Chitepo, Ndabaningi (Sithole) and Edson Sithole, Chief Rekayi Tangwena and his wife Ambuya Matadzisei Tangwena and many other heroes who sacrificed so that we can build a better Zimbabwe where democracy flourishes. We are here to revitalise that dream.

“This why Manicaland has never abandoned the noble fight for democracy because you have always known that independence without freedoms is useless. This is the reason you have supported the MDC since its formation. Manicaland has never strayed from that cause,” said President Tsvangirai.

MDC’s plan for the mining sector

The MDC’s Manifesto, which was launched by President Morgan Tsvangirai at Rudhaka Stadium in Marondera on 7 July 2013 under the theme; “A New Zimbabwe – The Time is now,” lays a firm foundation for Zimbabwe’s recovery and growth. The Manifesto prioritises job creation as a key deliverable of an MDC government and it targets the creation of one million jobs in the first five years of an MDC government.

The past 33 years of Zanu PF rule have seen Zimbabwe undergoing rapid de-industrialisation and the mining sector has not been spared. Despite being endowed with rich minerals that include gold, diamonds, platinum, and iron, Zimbabwe still ranks as one of the poorest countries on the African continent. This is because Zanu PF has failed to craft a comprehensive economic model that ensures that Zimbabwe’s rich mineral wealth is leveraged to create jobs and economic prosperity for Zimbabweans.

Corruption in the mining sector has also robbed Zimbabwe of much needed government revenue. The recent discovery of diamonds in Marange has been a curse to the people of Manicaland and to Zimbabweans in general.

Diamond mining concessions have been awarded to Chinese companies working with some organs of the security establishment including the military and this has created an environment of opaqueness where there is no transparency and accountability on diamond revenues.

Diamond revenues have not changed the lives of the people of Manicaland and Zimbabwean citizens as Zanu PF fat cats have looted them to fund their lavish lifestyles.

The MDC has a comprehensive plan to ensure that Zimbabwean citizens benefit from the country’s rich mineral endowment. We will create a conducive environment for genuine investment in the mining sector, which will create much-needed jobs and revenue. An MDC governmentwill immediately review mining legislation with a view to making sure that all mining concessions have Zimbabwe’s national interest at heart.

We will nationalise diamonds and ensure that government goes into partnership with genuine investors. An MDC government will also immediately establish a Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) where revenues from diamonds and other minerals will be deposited.

The SWF will become the country’s savings pot that ensures that future generations benefit from the country’s finite mineral resources and that the government deploys resources strategically to build a prosperous economy.

The MDC has a credible plan to get Zimbabwe working again. From 01 August 2013 Zimbabwe’s mining sector will be radically transformed to ensure that every citizen benefits from the country’s rich mineral wealth.

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