MDC-Alliance youths demand payment for taking part in demo

THE MDC-Alliance paid youths to demonstrate against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Wednesday in Harare, it has emerged.

Some of the rowdy youths who had not received full payment were exclusively captured by The Herald fuming at the party leadership.

They blamed Mr Charlton Hwende of not ensuring that they were fully paid and threatened not to vote for the MDC Alliance if they were not given the balance. The youths claimed they were promised $30 each, but were only given $10.

This comes as the MDC-T national chairman for the Nelson Chamisa camp yesterday sensationally defended the vulgar insults hauled at ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba during Wednesday’s demonstration.

The visibly drunk youths donning their party regalia were livid that their leaders were after the demonstration evasive on payment.

The youths were captured by The Herald fuming over non-payment and castigating the MDC-T deputy treasurer Mr Charlton Hwende.

They accused Mr Hwende of being selective on paying the youths.

“Other youths from Kuwadzana, Budiriro and Mufakose have already been paid. We are from Chitungwiza North and we have not been paid. Hwende should pay us,” said one youth.

Another one complained that he had left his workplace upon being enticed that they would get $30, but the party leadership was now playing hide and seek.

“We will not vote for the MDC-Alliance if we are not paid. They invited us to this demo. We have discharged our obligation and now they are no longer willing to pay us,” screamed another youth.

Soon after the demonstration, some youths thronged supermarkets in the Central Business District blowing vuvuzelas right in the shops. They were seen buying beer ranging from opaque to cheap spirits and shouting obscenities at everyone. Mr Hwende yesterday dismissed the claim by the disgruntled youths. He blamed Zanu-PF.

“They are Zanu-PF youths. We do not pay people to come for demonstrations and in any case we have no capacity to pay people.

“People come voluntarily and those are Zanu-PF youths trying to smear our demonstration that registered a resounding success,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Morgen Komichi defended the vulgar language directed at Justice Chigumba by MDC-Alliance youths.

“Chigumba had angered the people. While we might not condone it as leadership, but she invited it upon herself. Mai Chigumba has no respect for other people. She is too pompous and arrogant. Her character calls for what you are saying she was told,” said Mr Komichi.

In May this year, MDC-T rival leader Dr Thokozani Khupe was subjected to the same vulgar insults by the Nelson Chamisa-led youths outside the Supreme Court.