MDC Alliance President Advocate Nelson Chamisa addressed the nation yesterday in a presentation that his party termed, “The People’s President’s address to the nation.”
In the address he spelt out his party’s vision and program of action for the year 2021.
The MDC leader narrated how his party had survived an onslaught by what he termed the oppressor and other contrary forces. The oppressor in the address was in reference to the ruling Zanu Pf party. The situation he said was made worse by the Covid -19 pandemic which resulted in the indefinite suspension of by-elections and other electoral activities.
“2020 was a difficult year, but we survived. There were adverse forces that were trained against us, including the recalling of his party’s legislators and councilors and other elected officials as well as the diversion of his party’s finances under the political finance act.
“Our survival is itself a strong testimony of the strength of the idea that we represent and the undying spirit of our people.
“The second was the crisis of legitimacy and increasing authoritarianism whereby the oppressors have embarked on relentless assault on democracy and the peoples party.”
The MDC Alliance leader said that they won’t be broken down by the “oppressor”.
“The oppressor believes that by stripping us of our assets and entitlements under the law would dampen our spirits and break us down. This has not worked. The Zimbabwean people are politically literate and advanced, they can distinguish between right and wrong.”
Chamisa mentioned the “oppressors’s” attempts to destroy them but they remained steadfast.
“The Oppressor has tried everything to decimate us but we have remained steadfast.”
The opposition leader vowed that in the year 2021 his party will be more noticeable and engage in what he termed peaceful resisastance within the framework of the law, adding that his party had been able to endure tribulation without cracking.
“The year 2021 will be marked by peaceful resistance and resilience and we will peacefully resist and oppose the illegitimate regime that stole the 2018 election.”
Chamisa revealed that the aim of his party was to maintain the fight for democracy and to overwhelm the challenges placed ahead of them, iinsisting that the year 2021 will be a year of coordinated focus for change and bringing citizens together.
“The peoples agenda is to maintain the fight for democracy and to overcome the obstacles that have been placed on our way 2021 will be a year of citizens convergence and to put citizens together.”
The MDC Alliance has suffered major political setbacks which saw the judicially reconstructed MDC T party taking over Harvest House as well as recalling several of the MDC Alliance legislators and councilors. The Government has also given the MDC Alliance share of funding from the Political Parties Finance act to its rivals in the MDC T.
The party has also seen its members being arrested numerous times in the last 12 months in what the opposition says are politically motivated detentions. Some of the most prominent members of the party that have been arrested include activist Cecilia Chimbiri, Harare West legislator Ms Joana Mamombe, the party’s Deputy Chairperson Job Sikhala, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume amongst others.
Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri have accused state agents of torture, humiliation and sexual assault.