The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) today launched its new policy document dubbed; “RELOAD” which articulates the party’s five point plan towards addressing the economic crisis bedeviling the country.
The acronym, RELOAD, which stands for Road to Economic Recovery, Legitimacy, Openness And Democracy succeeds the party’s 2018 election campaign blueprint, dubbed SMART.
Key to this document will be pilling pressure on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration over alleged election fraud in the July 2018 by embarking on a spirited de-campaigning of the incumbent at various regional and international political forums such as SADC, African Union and the United Nations.
“The first step is we must build political and diplomatic pressure on this administration to realize peaceful change. To assure ourselves that our victory of July 2018 is secured. So we believe in non-violent, democratic action for peaceful change, we will be radically peaceful in terms of the constitution.
“So we have to come together to build this political pressure, war veterans come let us reason together, students come let us reason, Church leaders come, let us reason together, women’s organizations come let us reason together, political parties, genuine political parties not government organized political parties that we know, let this be a collective action,” said Chamisa.
Apart from political pressure, the party intends to start on a national dialogue which Chamisa said should be guaranteed or chaired by a respectable and credible mediator.
This according to Chamisa, should be followed by a national transitional mechanism which will be precursor to a comprehensive political reform agenda.
“People are confused about where we are, where we are going, what we are going to do, our role as democrats in terms of providing a solution to problems of our country. Here is your answer. We have a document that is well written. We have though leadership in our midst, we are not just thought leaders but we are actors as well,” added Chamisa.
Amongst key economic interventions the party harbours is returning the United States Dollars as the sole currency in the country following the government’s decision to outlaw the multi-currency system.
MDC Matabeleland South legislator, Nomathemba Ndlovu applauded the document as home-grown, following extensive consultations the party carried out in its drafting.
“We strongly support this document as it encompasses people’s concerns and expectations, remember this was done after wide consultation with the people across the country,” said Ndlovu.
