CONTRARY to recent misleading reports in some sections of the press, forgotten MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s bid to assert himself as a political force to reckon with suffered a huge dent when villagers in the Muzarabani and Mbire districts snubbed him during a recent visit to meet victims of floods that hit the area, The Patriot can exclusively reveal.
This is in sharp contrast to some reports in the so-called private media that Tsvangirai’s visit was what they claimed ‘a resounding success’.
The same reports alleged that Tsvangirai donated ‘tonnes’ of household packs that included tents, blankets and groceries to villagers who were severely affected by floods in the area.
However, information gathered by this publication shows that Tsvangirai did not leave ‘tonnes’ for the villagers as purported by the reports.
Instead Tsvangirai handed over the following food items, 300 kilogrammes of rice, a paltry nine litres of cooking oil, 288 bars of soap, 400 kilogrammes of sugar and 70 kilogrammes of salt.
In Ward 12 in Bwazi Village, Mbire District in Chief Chapoto’s area, Tsvangirai addressed about 500 ZANU PF and MDC-T supporters.
The event was organised by MDC–T Mashonaland Central Provincial Assembly chairperson, Justice Chitate.
The relatively high turnout was attributed to misinformation by the organisers of the event who claimed that the Civil Protection Unit (CPU) was to distribute donations to the affected villagers.
Addressing the villagers, Tsvangirai claimed that the purpose of his visit was to ‘assess’ the extent of the damage caused by the ravaging floods.
He stressed that his ‘findings’ would enable him to ‘source’ for the appropriate and sufficient aid from his friends from outside the country.
He did not name the so-called ‘friends’, but MDC-T officials who spoke to The Patriot said this was a ploy to hoodwink the villagers into endearing themselves with their embattled leader.
The MDC-T has been suffering from chronic financial challenges since their earth shattering defeat in the July 31, 2013 harmonised elections, with reports indicating that Tsvangirai himself was the hardest hit to an extent of failing to raise money to replace tyres of his car.
Donors who pumped over US$2, 5 billion in the opposition’s regime change agenda project have since stopped giving out the money after realising the futility of their exercise and the discovery that about US$850million was squandered.
Tsvangirai expectedly took aim at the Government, shamelessly claiming that it had ‘failed’ to relocate villagers to higher ground, but Government has on several occasions tried to relocate the villagers and its efforts have faced resistance.
“I hope that Government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) will also assist,” Tsvangirai said.
“There is no reason for anyone to render assistance along partisan lines.
“I hope everyone will be assisted and I hope the village heads will assist all affected people.”
Tsvangirai took the opportunity to subtly launch his 2018 electoral campaign and attacked the villagers for what he said was recycling of an ‘old President’ in apparent reference to President Robert Mugabe.
Realising the mistake of his beleaguered leader, Chitate frantically sought to control the damage by claiming that Tsvangirai’s visit was not cheap politicking.
“It is a visit by a concerned leader who was affected by the plight of the flood victims, which Government has failed to address,” said Chitate.
It was in Ward 20 in Muzarabani district that Tsvangirai received a rude awakening when his team again desperately tried to resort to masquerade as officials from the CPU.
He was forced to abort the meeting when only 20 people turned up.
In Muzarabani, Tsvangirai had intended to address MDC-T supporters at the homestead of one Shylock Remuro, a party activist.
Our sources however indicated that there is a new offensive by the MDC-T to boost its coffers through siphoning money and livestock from the villagers hence the Tsvangirai visit.
“You might have noticed that we launched that ‘Ecocash thing’ to raise money from our supporters, but that has failed to yield desired result,” said one of the sources.
“Things are a bit on the edge for us.
“Hatina mari, vanhu havana mari, madonors haachadi kutiona so tirikupusha kuti tiwane something through our fundraising schemes but the truth munin’ina is that zvinhu zvakatiomera.”
Another source said the MDC-T leader had been jolted into action by the significant inroads being made by President Mugabe and ZANU PF in their external relations.
President Mugabe recently bagged the African Union Chairmanship and the ZANU PF Government has been receiving widespread endorsements from across the globe through high powered business delegations seeking investment opportunities.
“Tsvangirai has been trying to get back on terms with our traditional funders, but they have literally turned their backs on us and are now doing business with the President (Mugabe) and ZANU PF,” said the source.
“This visit by Tsvangirai was nothing but an attention charade by our leader. He was pushed to act by Mugabe’s growing stature on the continent and the fact that it is actually possible that ZANU PF can revive this economy without our support.”