PRIME Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is stepping up his election campaigns, taking his canvass for votes ahead of next year’s polls to his rural Buhera village last weekend.
Report by Moses Matenga
His arch-rival, President Robert Mugabe has also been doing the rounds, laying the ground for what promises to be a titanic election battle given the high stakes for both candidates.
If Tsvangirai loses, it is likely to mark the end of his struggle to capture to the presidency, while a defeat for Mugabe will sound the death knell for his rule and long political career.
MDC leader and Industry and Commerce minister, Welshman Ncube, has also been tirelessly campaigning in preparation for his maiden foray into the uncharted territory.
Addressing thousands of people at the Buhera memorial rally last Saturday, Tsvangirai touched on the upcoming elections, MDC-T primaries, the constitution-making process, politically-motivated violence, diamonds, source of funding for Mugabe’s input scheme and the economy.
In a bid to re-invigorate his base, the MDC-T leader said victims of political violence have defined the path of the struggle and his supporters must now finish the job.
“We suffered a lot, but the resilience of people, their commitment, and their courageousness has stood the test of time,” he said.
The fruits of Independence, Tsvangirai said, have not cascaded to the general population. “If you reflect back and ask yourself – has my life changed from 1980? The answer is a strong No,” he noted.
Tsvangirai implored the party faithful to remain focused and fight as a united force.
“We might have our personal differences but when it comes to party business, we should all have unity of purpose. We should fight like a pack of lions. We have beaten them the last time and so what can stop us now from repeating history?” he said.
While Tsvangirai’s grassroots messages resonated with the bumper crowd, the affluence gap between the visibly well-off senior MDC-T officials and poor masses was glaring. On the side-lines of the gathering, some villagers noted the rapid transformation of the MDC-T leaders from their humble days in 2000 when they started off to now after amassing wealth.
The vast difference between the villagers, desperately eking out a hand-to-mouth existence and the lavish lifestyles of top MDC-T officials and ministers who rolled into Tsvangirai’s home area of Humanikwa village — about 200km away from their posh houses in Harare — in top-of-the-range vehicles and swanky attire, was all too visible.
The poverty-stricken rustic folk, some of whom travelled on foot for long distances to attend the rally for victims of political violence at the hands of Zanu PF, looked at the luxurious cars, ranging from the latest Mercedes Benz, Range Rovers and Land Rovers, to Land Cruisers and Prados with envy and resentment as proved by their furtive chats in hushed tones among each other.
Apart from Tsvangirai, other MDC-T heavyweights who attended include Thokozani Khupe, Lovemore Moyo, Nelson Chamisa, Theresa and Ian Makone, Murisi Zwizwai, and Giles Mutsekwa, among others.
MPs from Manicaland were not to be outdone as they arrived in Isuzu double-cabs and Madza BT50s — luxurious cars by village standards.
Tsvangirai’s mother, Lydia, clad in a deep red designer suit and cream wedding hat, arrived in style in a black Isuzu accompanied by relatives, all looking rather affluent.
Villagers started arriving at the venue around 8am, two hours before the rally was scheduled to start. Tsvangirai arrived amid dramatic scenes with his wife Elizabeth Macheka in a convoy of four cars shortly after 11am. As he disembarked from his silver Land Cruiser clad in an exquisite blue, white and red wide-striped casual shirt, dark blue trousers and a beige cap, jubilant villagers burst into scenes of joy as women ululated and men whistled amid a crescendo of shouts of Tsvangirai’s totem “Save, Save, Save. . .”.
The rally was a microcosm of the widening gap between the poor and the rich on a national scale.
This was made more conspicuous by the eye-catching Elizabeth who was exquisitely clad in purple head gear and bright blue, red, yellow and purple “African attire” with a turquoise blue lace over the upper top and arms. For a moment, save for the sight of the gathered humble rural folk, looking at the MDC-T officials in expensive attire, matching hats and shoes and their luxury vehicles, the “ bling bling” made the memorial appear like a high-society carnival event.
However, the jubilant supporters sang, danced, whistled and ululated under the scorching heat of the sun which seemingly did little to sap their energies. Although Tsvangirai and his colleagues later parcelled out small quantities of groceries which included cooking oil, sugar, soap and mealie-meal, his political show of benevolence could not to hide the reality that MDC-T officials were an island of prosperity in a sea of poverty –– something which diluted his somewhat mass-appealing delivery at the rally.
It looks as if the writer more than the villagers was irked by the opulence. Did he expect the ministers to arrive in 404s clad in the 1980s belly bottoms to resonate with the masses. It seems as if he was glorifying poverty.
Smith used to drive round in a Morris Minor. These are the peoples taxes that pay for all this.
For your information, Ian Smith never went around in a Morris Minor but in a Citiron. This was because he didn’t have the cars that we have these days and the other thing was the sanctions.you tend to forget that there was fuel rationing in the country because of the war and you deliberately chose to forget the evolution of the car industry in the last thirty years or so. Selective memory? Isn’t it?
Of course equity will never be realized in normal life, but whats required is a passionate feel for others. People in 1980 voted in tatters swarmed with lice but they did so happily. So to them it was objective achieved
Scunthorpe.
You are right Prince. This reporter seems to forget that these are people in Gov. We are talking here about the country’s prime minister and his ministers. What car was this reporter driving? If it was in the 70′s or 80′s what car would he have used to cover his job. Well, thats the good thing about personal opinions – not everyone subscribes to personal opinions.
yes its true although we support these people they are fast enriching themselves
To quote Gaddafi” representation is denial of participation” the Western concept of democracy is warped.the UK at the end of the war insisted on a constitution for us yet in the UK they don’t have one. I suggest you stop supporting the Politicians that you support if they are fast enriching themselves, and support those that empower you.you have plent choice don’t you Bwana?
Agreed Hondo ye nzara. In 1979 government ministers’s official cars were Peugeot 404s and Renault 12. We started seeing Mercs after independence. Later these were to be replaced 5 yearly and sold off to users for a song. Indeginisation.
How long would the poor have nothings have lasted, when colleagues from Zanu Pf rolled at Munhumutapa Building with the very cars they raised dust in Humanikwa in?
The Biblical Moses was the only men described as being humble. Lord have mercy on those poor villagers in Buhera. It may bean idea for another 40:35:15:10 MDC-T:Zanu Pf:MDC:Zapu.
Like Jesus said “the poor will always be amongst you” the government does not pay people to sit on their backsides. It collects taxes and uses that to develop infrastructure.i will vote for a government that empowers me as there will never be any government that will pay citizens to sit on their backsides and drink everyday like bottle tops.
so Matenga shld go and look for a poor villager to represent us in the struggle. Holier than thou
In the Independent eyes the MDC-T WILL NEVER DO ANYTHNG RIGHT.Am sure if Tsvangirai and co had cum in the humbliest of clothes and cars you will still had found something negative to say!!!!
Seems you missed the writer’s argument. Affluence is being displayed across the political devide in Zim, and it’s bad, period!
Thats the reason we are saying lets remove zanu from power so that others have a chance to access fiscus benefits and we will continue to change them so that the whole nation can benefit.
So you intend to benefit Zimboz by having everybody becoming rotating politicians?
the writer or reporter u have a bone to chew with SAVE,u are wolf on CHEAP sheep skin.They must look good for u to aspire to be a leader tomorrow,otherwise why risk being killed by your party(Repoter) ZANU PF
The writer makes a good point. MDC-T officials are also fast enriching themselves and are fast morphing into ZANU-PF. They need to show us they are different from ZANU to earn my vote.
For years the Independent has been peddling anti Tsvangira tirade. We have been waiting for the findings of the Tsvangirai-Biti double dipping housing investigations in which you reported outdoing the Herald and now you’re sucked in the Khupe-Tsvangira skulduggery. It is not open secret that the Independent was propped up by the Reserve Bank’s infamous BACCOSI scheme.
The rest of the country is paying for leaving opposition journalism to Matabeleland. All opposition newspapers are owned by people from Matabeleland who predictably support their parties such as MDC(Ncube), ZAPU, and Matabelelalnd Liberation Front. Lets start our own papers where we can support MDC-T to our satisfaction!
The Independent should raise those issues and I think they are very relevant. What it means is that communities are always on the receiving end from politicians – whichever party they belong. The poor rural folks at Humanikwa have deep scars of political violence. The generality of Zimbabweans have very deep scars of the liberation struggle which ushered freedom to this great country. So why is that after independence very few claim for compensation? If the comrade was indeed a fish and the community the water which protected and sustained the fish, how come the comrade want everything at the expense of the community? MDC therefore is no exception and villagers are well aware of the behavior of politicians.
the shona people never learn, they will defend a ditactor utnil he stars killing them like mugabe is doing. Now we are being told we cant critise Tsvangirai. Again they are creating another mugabe,,,watch the space
munyori murwere wepfungwa. Aida kuona PM varimungoro kana pabasikoro. Anoda chiremba wepfungwa
wena roy use english 2comunicate hw cn we hear u?hw cn u support morgan blindl u illterat pple u hv a huge prox,u blng 2 povety tht ws formd by RG
Wean Nyathi, you also need a proper Oxford dictionary for us to follow what you are saying here. You communicate like you are sending an SMS, so how can you be understood. In Zim we have three national languages and as long as people use these three we can communicate. Whoevere said English is what is spoken on this wall? Or your information poverty was not formed by RG, as it existed as a term long before RG was born..though I agree with you and Madhuku that there are people who are payed to get angry on behalf of the MDC.
t
the people of Zimbabwe should learn to critically analyse their political leaders.they are the assesors of these leaders.The reporters failed to paint a bad image of the Tsvangirai rally as he wanted.He should have provided interviews with these rural folks for their views then provide comment based on their views.What these people know is they are no jobs on every farm or business taken over by the Kasukuweres.They do not pay taxes,zesa,zinwa,workers.they threaten whoever seeks redress of unfair labour treatment.they get the best inputs first on time.They force the poor people to their rallies.The poor people at Tsvangson’s rally went there because they wanted to.they are obviously expecting something for their lives,not food handouts.A better future.
it comes with the territory u dont expect the president/prime minister or ministers to drive around in nissan sunny. even african chiefs became rich and pampered. so thats life, we just need vanodya zvishoma not zvese sezvinoitwa nezanu.
Save,
You connection of opposition jpurnalism to Matabeleland is a bit mischievous. It is just a coincindence that the paper happens to be owned by a fellow from Matabeleland.
We need move away from tribalism, and look at ourselves as one people, respect each other, and pull together for the common good of all born between the Limpopo/Zambezi, Victoria falls/Forbes Border post.
Journalism, lilihlo likazulu/iziso repovo. They warn us of lurking danger, and what they did here was to say, Zimbabwe beware, that you do not end up with leaders that care only for themselves. And they have been at that business for decades. We then reflect on their message, and measure it on the merits/demerits we see.
Not muShona lamaNdebele. That will not put isitshwala/sadza on a plate in Gandanzara or Guyu.
There has been huge response in defence of the PM bling bling stance, however by wining and dining with the enemy and falling trap to the affluent Zanu PF culture, the MDC was actually doing a disservice unto itself.People have had the tendency of arguing along partisan lines even if doing so is being inconsistent with facts and too economic with the truth, with overwhelming evidence showing wrong doing.
Honestly speaking the MDC should have been the first to show a conservative approach as soon as they walked into government, by cutting all unnecessary expenses like lobbying for streamlining of ministries, unnecessary foreign trips and buying unnecessary expensive vehicles.The people in Buhera right now, are starving and their clinics are running without enough medication,most likely only paracetamols, yet all the money saved could have gone a long way to help them.
Jose Mujica, the Uruguan President, donates about 90% of his salary to charity and stays in a farmland, whilst this might be too much from African politics point of view, that way this president leaves closer to his people and closer to reality.
Its highly unlikely that the current crop of MDC ministers in government are still representing the ills of the people they so much claim to represent.
Taguta Padare
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