Farai Dziva|The MDC Alliance has indicated that NGOs should be allowed to distribute food aid to concerned communities without the involvement of Zanu PF functionaries.
The MDC Alliance also accused Zanu PF of looting donations meant for the needy.
Read full statement below:
Communique Following MDC Alliance NEC Meeting
SEPTEMBER 19, 2020
NOTING the extent of the national crisis, the suffering of the masses, increased poverty, economic instability, hyperinflation, economic disequilibrium;
CONCERNED by the crisis of legitimacy, the closure of political space, attack on civil liberties and human rights, persecution and arrests of activists, the torture and violence against the citizens:
FURTHER NOTING the humanitarian crisis in respect of which 8 million Zimbabweans are food insecure and 5 million people have to be provided with humanitarian assistance and concerned by the massive leakages and looting of humanitarian aid …
TAKING COGNISANCE of the COVID19 pandemic and the gross mismanagement of the pandemic through the lack of financial resources, mass testing and provision of PPEs, drugs, isolation and quarantine centres:
DISTURBED by ZANU PF-driven threats to the people’s political party – the MDC Alliance, the unlawful arrests of our leaders and members, the unlawful recalls of elected people’s representatives and the abuse in the interpretation of the Supreme Court judgment:
1. The party expresses concern over Zimbabwe’s multi-faceted governance, economic and social crisis which has manifested in mass starvation, poverty, joblessness, wage erosion, poor earnings by civil servants, the remuneration crisis in the education sector, grand corruption and a deepening crisis in the health sector including inadequate remuneration and PPEs for health workers and insufficient isolation facilities. We call for NGOs to give aid directly to communities to avoid abuse by ZANU PF.
We condemn corruption in COVID19 procurement and the use of COVID19 as an excuse to clampdown on human rights.
2. The party condemns the closure of democratic space, human rights abuses, violence, wanton arrests and demands the immediate release of all political prisoners and an immediate cessation of all malicious prosecutions, particularly of Job Sikhala, Joanna Mamombe, Cecillia Chimbiri, Chalton Hwende, Tsitsi Dangarembwa, Netsai Marova, Hopewell Chin’ono, Jacob Ngarivhume and Godfrey Kurzone.
3. The party notes the efforts of South Africa and the ANC in facilitating the resolution of the national crisis. The party restates its commitment to dialogue centred on comprehensive reforms, national healing and the return to legitimacy and democracy. The party supports the efforts of the ANC and calls for the involvement and scaffolding of the process by the international community, in particular SADC and the African Union.
4. The party affirms the democratic right of citizens to protest peacefully as enshrined in section 59 of the Constitution and places all citizens on notice with regard to the need for a broad front to challenge ZANU PF and mass mobilization because Zimbabwean Lives Matter and the March is not Ended.
5. The party restates that it is the MDC Alliance party. It contested the 2018 election as the MDC Alliance. As the alternative, it has MPs in Parliament and councillors in local authorities. It has been victimized as the MDC Alliance and will win as the MDC Alliance. It will remain the MDC Alliance.
6. The party demands comprehensive electoral and political reforms as set out in our RELOAD and PRICE policy documents. The party considers participation in free, fair and credible elections as a necessary zone of struggle.
7. As a people-driven party, the NEC mandated the leadership at various levels to consult stakeholders, opinion leaders, grassroots structures and party organs countrywide on the multiple options that are available to it.
Fadzayi Mahere
National Spokesperson