MDC To Roll Out Demonstrations In Harare This Thursday, Cite Economic Hardships

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has resolved to conduct a demonstration this Thursday against the economic hardships prevailing in the country. The MDC national council met in the capital, Harare, last week and come up with the decision. The police have already been notified of the planned demonstration as required by law. The demonstrations are set to start in Harare and would eventually be rolled countrywide. Speaking to Newsday, MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said

Indeed, our demonstration is coming this Thursday. The national council endorsed it, but the idea came from the people during our consultations from across the country… We have notified the police, and we don’t expect them to go against the Constitution. Our section 59 is very clear as regards our rights to demonstrate, and our duty is simply to notify the police, which we have done. They were notified last week.

Zimbabweans are so over-taxed. We are having this burden of an additional 2% taxation; medicines are now being charged using US$. The duty of some items, including motor vehicles, are paid in US$ yet the bulk of the people get their earnings in RTGS.

Pensions are being eroded and the budget statement just poured salt on the wounds of struggling Zimbabweans… A demonstration is an inalienable right. Doing a legitimate thing can never be a cause of illegality, and we will go ahead with the demonstration.

Related:

• MDC Alliance To Start Demonstrations This Month: Amos Chibaya

• MDC To Press Ahead With Demo Despite Govt Threats

More: Newsday