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MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, appeals to people/ Daily News closed again
EFL from BBC via World WireHe said the country was bleeding - and that a way forward must be found to stop it. Victory was in sight, he said, and 2004 would be the year of the people. Mr Tsvangirai was speaking at a conference of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the capital, Harare. He was given a warm reception by about 1,000 delegates, but the BBCâs Barnaby Phillips - reporting from neighbouring South Africa - says the MDC has been going through difficult times. It has organised successful strikes and stay-aways but, in the face of government brutality, has failed to bring people out on the streets, our correspondent says. The BBC is pessimistic and South Africa supports Bob, but the ANC worked through adversity in itâs day as well.There are disagreements within the party, with some activists demanding more mass action, while others say greater efforts should be made to revive negotiations with the government. Our correspondent says that, with the government controlling the media, the MDC has little room for manoeuvre. On Friday, police occupied the offices of Zimbabweâs only privately-owned daily newspaper, despite a court ruling that it could resume publication. The Daily News, a strong critic of President Robert Mugabeâs government, was shut down by police three months ago, under tough media laws passed after Mr Mugabeâs controversial re-election last year. Zimbabweâs Information Minister Jonathan Moyo said Fridayâs judgement had no legal force. He described the ruling as "outrageously political, unacceptable", adding that an appeal had already been lodged with the Supreme Court. Lawyers for the paper say Judge Selo Nare, who made the ruling, had now asked for police protection. I donât know that I would want Bobâs police protecting me in this situation. The guy has brass balls for making the ruling in the first place. Posted by: Super Hose 2003-12-20 |
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