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Tsvangirai’s independence message- sinking poverty and extreme suffering not worth celebrating

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai today said the country’s 37th independence anniversary was not worth celebrating because of the “stinking poverty” and “extreme suffering” that the people of Zimbabwe were going through.

“Our current sad national predicament is not commensurate with the sacrifice we made as a nation in the brutal struggle for our independence,” he said in his independence day message.

“Today is a day for serious reflection on whether the despicable state of the nation and the sorry plight of people can be regarded as the sum total of the true meaning of our independence.”

The main opposition leader called on Zimbabweans to forget their political differences and put the country first for it to progress.

“Whether ZANU-PF or MDC, or any other political party for that matter, every Zimbabwean must ask themselves whether we really deserve this suffering in a country for which so many paid the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.

“Let us put aside all our differences, harness our diversity and vote for the man or woman who will shepherd this country to the greatness it deserves; a leader who values our nationhood and collective dignity more than the colour of our party cards.”

Continued next page

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This post was last modified on April 18, 2017 7:25 am

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Charles Rukuni

The Insider is a political and business bulletin about Zimbabwe, edited by Charles Rukuni. Founded in 1990, it was a printed 12-page subscription only newsletter until 2003 when Zimbabwe's hyper-inflation made it impossible to continue printing.

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