- ZANU PF youths plot counter demo
THE impending second visit by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s envoys to Zimbabwe has already generated political tensions in the country.
Some opposition MDC Alliance party youths are now said to be itching for confrontation, with reports saying they are readying themselves to meet the emissaries upon touching down at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
The opposition youths are also plotting to hold flash demonstrations throughout the stay of the SA envoys in a bid to spotlight their grievances
Sources have, however, told Zim Morning Post that Zanu PF youths are plotting a counter demonstration to MDC Alliance youths’ protests.
The date of arrival of the South African envoys to Zimbabwe is yet to be announced but according to this publication’s sources, the demonstrations by MDC Alliance youths are meant to draw regional and global attention to Zimbabwe’s decades old sociopolitical problems.
The last time the South African envoys visited Zimbabwe from Ramaphosa was on August 10 with State noting that the “calmness” in the country at the time of the visit a sign that there was no crisis.
The special envoys, Baleka Mbete and Syndey Mufumadi, were under specific orders to assess allegations of human rights violations after security forces on July 31 cracked down on anti-government protesters.
In an interview with journalists after meeting President Mnangagwa, Mufamadi said had exchanged views with Mnangagwa on the situation in the country.
“We exchanged views with his counterpart President Mnangagwa. In other words, we were listening to the state of the situation, what is being done or the intentions to do extra things and so on,” he said.
Opposition MDC Alliance, church and civic organisations were, however, bitter over the envoys’ failure (before returning to South Africa) to also listen to their side of the story.
Before the meeting early August, the South African government, which is said to be under immense domestic and international pressure to fairly mediate the Zimbabwean sociopolitical question, had said its envoys would engage with both the government of Zimbabwe and other relevant stakeholders, to “identify possible ways in which South Africa can assist Zimbabwe”.
