Tinashe Sambiri|The MDC Alliance believes Zanu PF can be defeated via the ballot box, contrary to claims that the former revolutionary party is invincible.

Zanu PF agents across the country are subtly discouraging young people from registering to vote under the “nothing will change” mantra.

Read the MDC Alliance Namibia statement below:

THE DIASPORA DEMANDS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO VOTE AS A FULFILLMENT OF THE #GLOBALAGENDA, MDC ALLIANCE NAMIBIA ECHOES!

23 MARCH 2021

Mdc Alliance Namibia undertook a resounding launch of the Citizens Convergence for Change as part of the #Agenda2021 throughout its various branches in Namibia.

Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu Branch Executive met and deliberated on the dire need to recruit and mobilise citizens in the diaspora especially in Namibia so that we are able to demand our fundamental right to vote in the diaspora.

As a branch, we resolved to implement the Party’s recently launched agenda 2021 which included #peoples’agenda, #globalagenda, #reformagenda and #citizensconvergenceforchange. During the meeting, Rundu Branch Treasurer General Obert Chesango urged the leadership of the party to give a clear direction on how the smart agenda should be implemented.

He expressed his worries ahead of 2023 general elections if the party delays to activate the masses into action particularly for comprehensive electoral and political reforms.

Furthermore, following a robust engagement, Rundu Branch Executive pledged to work diligently to implement the smart agenda of the party by mobilising for a serious campaign for the diaspora vote that will see the inclusion of an estimated population of 3 to 4 million Zimbabwean nationals residing outside the country , specifically in Namibia, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, Zambia, Botswana, Germany only to mention but a few. As part of the party’s global agenda to include us in the national discourse by participating in the general elections in Zimbabwe, Rundu Branch exhibited its readiness to embrace the citizens converge for complete change.

Mdc Alliance Namibia is Cognisant of the fact that the diaspora now ranks as one of the chief contributors to Zimbabwe’s export earnings and 58% jump in remittances from US$635 million , means we can’t be sidelined in serious national issues that determine political and economic stability in the motherland. Statistics reflect that the diaspora contribution to the economy comes after platinum as the second highest. The organic and pragmatic branch executive led by Secretary General Simbarashe Ndoda gave a glance at the US$1 billion remittances that the country received last year from the diaspora, and resolved to push to be accorded more attention since the constituency has become an undoubted backbone of the country’s socio-economic dynamics.

Moreover, we demand that the diaspora must not be relegated to economic contributions. We say NO to this cold shoulder we are getting from our clueless and desperate government when it comes to the basic universal human rights to vote or offer political remedies to the corrupt Zanupf cronies. It is indisputable that 50% of the families (employed or unemployed) rely on remittances. It is in this complex frame that authorities need to come up with sound strategies to harness the undoubted potential of the diaspora factor to grant them the right to contribute economically, socially and politically to the nation’s growth in every aspect that affect citizens.

Moreso, Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu Branch reminds Zanupf that diaspora vote becomes non-negotiable given how the diaspora is contributing to their beloved Motherland through remittances. We demand the fundamental electoral reforms before 2023 harmonised elections to avert another disputed poll. The vibrant branch remains resolutely behind the Citizens Convergence for Change where all progressive citizens are invited to unite to win Zimbabwe for change. It is now imperative for all poverty-stricken teachers, peasants, lawyers , doctors, nurses, learners, parents and students to converge and confront the beast in the eye. All social democrats must assemble and give a hot constitutional fight to those who eat on behalf of the hungry citizens. It should be clear to Zanupf that we are not in the diaspora by choice but we were pushed out our country by Zanupf terrorists.

In a nutshell, Mdc Alliance Namibia Rundu Branch Spokesperson demands that all right thinking citizens should unite as a people and ask for economic and political answers to the Zimbabwean question. Right now our Hon Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri are staying with a snake in the cells at Chikurubi maximum prison, Takudzwa Ngadziore is now more than 3 weeks old, incarcerated despite the police testifying that he was not part of the press conference addressed by Joana Mamombe demanding the unconditional release of #PeoplePower Leader and Mdc Alliance Youth Leader, Makomborero Haruzivishe ,this is clear Satanism by Zanupf therefore citizens convergence becomes compulsory. Section 59 of the 2013 constitution allows the citizens to petition and demonstrate their discontentment without fear of being persecuted by prosecution since it has become Zanupf’s modus operandi.

Mdc Alliance Namibia
Rundu Branch Spokesperson
Robson Ruhanya