By Terrence Mawawa, Masvingo |Tension continues to mount ahead of President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash scheduled for Saturday with MDC youths staging a demonstration against the president’s lavish ceremony while millions of Zimbabweans are facing starvation.
Placard wielding MDC youths on Tuesday marched along the streets of Masvingo expressing concern at the state of the economy and starvation while Mugabe ‘s bash chewed up at least $800 000. MDC national youth chairperson Happymore Chidziva urged Mugabe and Zanu PF to address matters of national concern instead of blowing close to a million dollars on the bash.
“It is unacceptable to blow up such a lot of money just to celebrate Mugabe’s birthday while millions of people are hungry. So our message is very clear, Mugabe must address the disastrous situation with immediate effect. The economy is crumbling everyday and hundreds of graduates are roaming the streets so we call upon the government to address these matters of national importance,” said Chidziva.
The MDC youths also slammed the current infighting in Zanu PF saying ruling party stalwarts were concentrating on factional battles ignoring the plight of the people of Zimbabwe. “Zanu PF bigwigs are fighting each other while the entire nation is suffering. What we want is food on the table.We want jobs not Mugabe’s bash which does not benefit the nation. Masvingo Province is hard hit by drought and instead of wasting money on the bash, Mugabe must feed the nation and the province of Masvingo,” said Chidziva. Meanwhile members of Mugabe’s security team have occupied all the luxurious lodges and hotels in the city of Masvingo.
Analysts say thousands of dollars have been committed towards Mugabe’s personal security at a time drought is ravaging the province of Masvingo and parts of Midlands and Matabeleland provinces respectively.