The opposition MDC Alliance (MDC-A) has urged the international community to keep supporting Zimbabwe in the fight against COVID-19 but not to channel the financial support through the government as the funds will “disappear”.
Addressing journalists in Harare on Wednesday afternoon, MDC-A co-vice president Tendai Biti also urged the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to intervene in Zimbabwe’s crisis and facilitate national dialogue. Said Biti:
COVID-19 remains a threat to the nation. Unlike others, we thank the international community for its support. We urge the international community to keep supporting Zimbabweans but not through the Govt. Channel aid through aid organisations so it gets to the people.
… The political pandemic is greater than the public health one. We are calling for a sober approach and a cessation of hostilities by the regime against citizens. We are all g for the restoration of the Constitution. We object to the de facto state of emergency.
We call upon the region (SADC) to intervene, particularly South Africa which chairs the AU. We need an external referee to underwrite the dialogue. If there’s no regional intervention, people will lose their lives.
Biti said his party fully supports the planned 31 July citizens’ anti-corruption protests, saying the right to protest is guaranteed by the national constitution.
Meanwhile, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has warned people who will disregard the ban on the planned protests that they will face the full wrath of the law.