Rowdy MDC-T supporters slammed
george nkiwane

Mr George Nkiwane

Vivian Mugarisi Herald Reporter
Labour leaders and political analysts have come out strongly against the behaviour of MDC-T supporters who heckled a Government official off the podium at May Day celebrations at Gwanzura Stadium in Harare on Thursday.The rowdy opposition supporters created such a ruckus that labour director in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Mr Francis Mafuratidze, could not finish presenting a speech he was reading on behalf of his minister, Nicholas Goche.

Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions president Mr George Nkiwane condemned the rowdy behaviour saying it showed lack of discipline. “That one we condemn, that was uncalled for,” he said. “I tried to correct that by trying to instil discipline in them. We want disciplined cadres. We want Zimbabweans who are disciplined.

“We cannot commemorate our Workers Day without the involvement of the responsible ministry. In this case it was the Ministry of Labour.

“We cannot go ahead with our event without the keynote address by the minister and the minister sent Mr Mafuratidze. What the workers did was uncalled for and we condemn it unreservedly.”

Mr Nkiwane said he was not amused by whoever had instigated the uncalled for behaviour.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association chairman Cde Jabulani Sibanda, said MDC-T was used to violence, intimidation and disorder.

He said the supporters may have been frustrated because they were living from hand-to-mouth while their leaders led lavish lifestyles.

“Being rowdy, noisy and violent is their policy because outside that they do not have anything else they can tell the people,” he said. “Right now there is no election and they have to fight amongst themselves because that is what they are for.”

Analyst Dr Nhamo Mhiripiri, said the behaviour showed the lack of democracy in MDC-T, which never wanted to hear anyone outside the opposition speaking.

“That shows lack of tolerance, lack of democratic values in the people that stopped the director from presenting the speech. Whatever he had to say was meant for every Zimbabwean who ought to have heard the policies the minister had in store, and those policies would then be criticised for lack of value or praised for their worthiness.

“When you do not permit people to listen to that speech it means you are denying the people their right to make opinions about the speech and that lack of tolerance is intolerable itself,” Dr Mhiripiri said.

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