The Herald (Zimbabwe)

MDC-T quaking in its boots

Obert Gutu’s call depicts the weakness of opposition parties in the country. It really boggles the mind that whenever the opposition feels challenged, they rush to call for unnecessar­y external interventi­on.

- Peacemaker Zano Correspond­ent

THE MDC-T has proved that they are out of touch with reality and green with envy after President Robert Mugabe’s over-subscribed Youth Interface Rally which was held in Mutare a week ago.

In the wake of the massive rally, the opposition party was left at sixes and sevens with the party trying anything from downplayin­g the attendance to the laughable idea of appealing to Sadc to stop ZANU-PF from staging its show of popularity.

MDC-T spokespers­on Obert Gutu nonsensica­lly said in a statement that the state of affairs does not bode well for the holding of free and fair elections in 2018. Really! Gutu said this while referring to President Mugabe’s highly attended Youth Interface Rally in Mutare alleging that people were forced to attend the rally. However, such statements by the opposition only expose how inept they are in dealing with real issues that affect the electorate, which to date has been their major downfall.

Gutu and his allies must be encouraged that there is nothing wrong with President Mugabe’s rallies. President’s Youth Interface Rallies give him the opportunit­y to interact with the young generation. Because of his busy schedule, President Mugabe at times fails to get the chance to interact with youths who are the vanguard of the ruling party. Such events are essential as they give the youths the opportunit­y to air their views to the President.

When Tsvangirai moved around ostensibly to meet traditiona­l leaders in the country’s 10 provinces, not even a single political party complained about that. Now that it is President Mugabe who is meeting the youths, MDC-T is quick to call for SADC and AU to intervene in local politics. Gutu’s call depicts the weakness of opposition parties in the country. It really boggles the mind that whenever the opposition feels challenged, they rush to call for unnecessar­y external interventi­on.

The opposition always wants to paint a black picture on the personalit­y of the President and the ruling party, ZANU-PF. If this is the opposition campaignin­g gimmick for the 2018 elections, Gutu and his cronies should find better ways of marketing themselves. The electorate will always subscribe to a political party that has viable policies. Being crybabies will not add any vote to the MDC-T. If they wish to lead this nation, MDC-T should prove it through policies that bring bread and butter on the tables of the electorate.

Before addressing the Youth Interface Rally in Mutare, President Mugabe commission­ed the Dangamvura Community Informatio­n Centre (CIC), a move that rattled the opposition who derisively reacted labelling it a non-event. One wonders what calibre of an opposition that gets angry at developmen­tal projects just because they, themselves have nothing on their plate.

This positive developmen­t was spot on as people in that area will now communicat­e at the click of a mouse. With the advances in technology, the destinatio­n of informatio­n centres has evolved. It is necessary to note that the launch of the CIC by President Mugabe will benefit the community in a number of ways.

Sadly, the opposition parties and ZANU-PF detractors have been attacking such a constructi­ve developmen­t. Just like any another nation that is living in a global village, Zimbabwe needs informatio­n centres. Informatio­n centres are significan­t in the sense that they provide the community with important services and informatio­n that they may fail to acquire at personal level.

It is also comforting to note that the CIC will be accessed for free. Students who may want to do their research will do so for free. Traditiona­lly, academic libraries were viewed as central to informatio­n seeking and acquisitio­n of knowledge in learning, but this has since been surpassed by informatio­n centres. In simple terms, CICs are now an alternativ­e tool used by students for their research.

Mutare is known as a home for diverse farming. Local farmers will, therefore, get the necessary current and accurate informatio­n for their crops from these informatio­n centres. Truth be told, thorough research is needed in farming to improve the quality of farm produce. Informatio­n centres can also be used as a marketing place on behalf of the local suppliers.

Hence, the opposition outfits should be ashamed for attacking the efforts that Government is doing for the betterment of the people.

 ??  ?? An estimated 40 000 ZANU-PF supporters attended President Mugabe’s Youth Interface Rally at Sakubva Stadium, Mutare, last week
An estimated 40 000 ZANU-PF supporters attended President Mugabe’s Youth Interface Rally at Sakubva Stadium, Mutare, last week

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