Maravi

(HERALD) Tsvangirai’s begging bowl and youth gangs

Tsvangirai’s begging bowl and youth gangs
Saturday, 19 November 2011 22:55
Sunday Mail Reporters

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai visited Morocco last week where he received more lessons on the North African uprisings. At home his MDC-T is understood to have recruited about 340 youths to form what the party is calling “reaction teams” as suspicion that the Western-funded party is preparing to unleash violence gathers momentum.

While in Morocco, reports say Mr Tsvangirai was promised more Western funding if his party manages to stage revolts that will push President Mugabe and Zanu-PF out of power if the MDC-T loses in the forthcoming elections.

These latest revelations come amid reports that the MDC-T has recruited more than 340 youths in Harare and Chitungwiza to run a string of violence campaigns through terror groups known as “reaction teams”.

Sources last week revealed that although Mr Tsvangirai was in the North African country under the cover of the Amadeus Institute annual conference, he was, in fact, drumming up support ahead of elections slated for next year.

The sources said his latest foray to the North and the creation of the “reaction teams” were tailored to instigate mayhem that would prompt Western intervention under the guise of the United Nations, as happened in Libya.

Reports say while at the conference, the MDC-T leader met Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga and Libyan interim prime minister Abdurraheem El-Keib.

In Kenya, President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential election held on December 27 2007. Supporters of Kibaki’s opponent, Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement, alleged electoral manipulation.

Opposition supporters went on a violent rampage in several parts of the country leaving more than 1 200 people dead. On February 28 2008, President Kibaki and Odinga signed a power-sharing agreement called the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, which established the office of prime minister and created a coalition government.

Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Mr Jameson Timba last night almost blew Mr Tsvangirai’s cover, saying his boss had only received “lessons on democracy” in Morocco.

“It is totally untrue and malicious. The Prime Minister travelled to Morocco to attend the annual event and is now back in the country,” he said.

“The only ‘training’ he has received is on democracy.”

The West has instigated revolts and has toppled many African leaders in many countries in North Africa under the guise of democracy.

However, sources maintained the trip was a part of a “workshop” on how to mobilise citizens to revolt against a legitimate government.

They said the visit should be read in the context of a previous trip Mr Tsvangirai made to Rabat where he received United States funds through the Moroccans.
Although the exact details were still sketchy last night, the sources said Zimbabweans should be wary of the spirit behind last week’s trip.

“It is not by coincidence that he visited Morocco at the same time the so-called reaction teams are being set up.

“Of course, the annual conference provides the right cover, but the purpose was on the North African-style revolts. This involved meetings with officials from that region.”

Speaking at the conference, Mr Tsvangirai created the impression there was large-scale violence and destruction in Zimbabwe and called for external intervention.

“I urge you all to support Sadc and the regional effort to stabilise the situation in Zimbabwe so that the people in our country are allowed to choose their own government without violence and intimidation,” he said.

“I call upon every one of you to stand by us in this delicate moment, aware that we must all become global citizens, ready to defend peace and democracy everywhere . . .”

Mr Tsvangirai went further to praise the North African uprisings. This is not the first time that the MDC-T leader has gone to Morocco for his questionable meetings.
In 2008, Mr Tsvangirai allegedly received an unspecified amount of money during his visit to Morocco. A leaked American diplomatic cable revealed Morocco had previously provided him with "clandestine financial support".

He also received a dubious prize at an event organised by Amadeus then run by the son of Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi Fihri.

While Mr Tsvangirai was allegedly getting funding and lessons on the North African uprisings, it emerged last week that the MDC-T was setting up youth gangs known as "reaction teams", which are modelled on the MDC-T's discredited "democratic resistance committees".

The committees, notoriously known as (DRCs), were accused of perpetrating violence a few years ago.

Investigations revealed that the party has recruited 240 youths in the capital and 100 others in Chitungwiza.

Insiders said the reaction teams operate as virtual military wings of the party. The insiders added that the teams were under strict instructions to fight "where necessary".

MDC-T spokespersons could not be reached for comment last night.

"The recruitment is ongoing and 10 youths are being recruited from each district. So far in Harare, 240 youths have been recruited and the provincial head of security is behind the recruitment.

"In Chitungwiza, more than 100 youths were recruited."

An insider said the youths are holding meetings across the country through a programme co-ordinated by the party's security department.

"They hold meetings and night vigils which are fully sponsored by the party. Their next meeting is scheduled to be held in Gwanda on December 2 and 3."

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS (ZIMBABWE), MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, MWAI KIBAKI

posted by MrK @ 4:23 PM