Defeated MDC-T's Anniversary to Map Way Forward

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation of former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai is Saturday expected to hold its 14th anniversary celebrations amid expectations from the party faithful for the labour-backed opposition to define its roadmap for the future following its defeat by Zanu PF In the July 31 polls.

Some MDC-T supporters say they expect party leader Tsvangirai to use the meeting scheduled for Sakubva Stadium in the eastern border city of Mutare to advise them of their way forward following the party’s crushing defeat in the polls.

One such activist is Kufakunesu Magadu of Harare’s Mbare high density suburb who is traveling to Mutare. He says he wants to hear Mr. Tsvangirai’s strategy of reversing the outcome of the polls, which he says were stolen from his party by Zanu-PF.

Prior to the elections, Mr. Tsvangirai said his party would do all it can to protect the electorate’s vote in the event of electoral fraud.

Another MDC-T member, Nickson Shambambeva of Budiriro told VOA Studio 7 that following the formation of a new government by President Robert Mugabe, it is now clear that there is nothing the MDC-T could do to reverse the poll outcome, especially after the Southern African Development Community and the African Union endorsed the polls as free and fair.

Shambambeva advises Mr. Tsvangirai and those in the MDC-T corridors of power to concentrate on rebuilding party structures in preparation for the 2018 elections although the MDC-T is still demanding fresh polls.

Some media reports have quoted MDC-T treasurer general Roy Bennett, who is based in South Africa, as having called for Mr. Tsvangirai to quit his position as party leader after three failed attempts to remove Mr. Mugabe from office.

However, VOA Studio 7 failed to verify this with Bennett himself but Shambambeva says there is nothing wrong in leadership renewal within the opposition party. He adds that Mr. Tsvangirai could use Saturday’s celebrations to rejuvenate the party.

Meanwhile, political analyst and director of the Media Centre, Earnest Mudzengi, says MDC-T supporters should not expect Mr. Tsvangirai to disclose his strategy at the meeting.

The event will be Mr. Tsvangirai’s first interface with his supporters after the July 31 polls.

Although the MDC-T and the international community say the July 31 elections were fundamentally flawed and do not reflect the will of the people of Zimbabwe, Zanu PF remains adamant that the polls were free, fair and credible.