By Claver Nyuki
Following a deluge of complaints from party members that the MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa was unmoved by the arrests of party activists, the under fire opposition leader has finally condemned the alleged abductions and arrests of that party’s national chairperson, Tabitha Khumalo and organising secretary, Amos Chibaya.
Chamisa said the window-dressed statement during the party’s National Standing Committee meeting on Wednesday at the party’s Morgan Richard Tsvangirai Headquarters and the move was widely regarded as succumbing to pressure.
A source who spoke to the Harare Post on condition of anonymity fearing reprisals, revealed that Chamisa, who was jittery throughout the meeting, risked provoking the wrath of his lieutenants when he told the party members in attendance that the arrested activists were “mere casualties in the struggle.”
“I would like to categorically condemn the abductions being spearheaded by (the President) Mr (Emmerson) Mnangagwa’s Government and the arrests of our senior party members including Khumalo, Chibaya and Sikhala.
“In this fight against the regime, we must develop thick skins, in every struggle there are mere casualties in pursuit of the greater good,” he said.
The source added that Chamisa encouraged the party’s leadership to intensify the nationwide demonstrations in order to get a reaction from Government and the Police as he revealed plans to create a dossier on alleged abductions, violence and human rights abuses at the hands of members of the security sector which the party intends to submit to SADC, AU and UN.
“SADC and AU have been quiet on the abductions and gross human rights abuses suffered by our party members at the hands of Mr Mnangagwa’s regime.
“We are coming up with a dossier on abductions, violence and human rights abuses at the hands of the Police and the Army. So we have to intensify the rate of demonstrations to get a reaction from Government to force Mr Mnangagwa to dialogue,” Chamisa said.
The source also revealed that during the meeting, Chamisa admitted that the 16 August demonstration was not as successful as they had hoped and attributed it to ‘loyal’ activists who were no longer active. His statement further buttressed Khumalo’s statement that members no longer had the motivation to partake in party programmes.
The disgruntlement among the MDC’s ‘loyal’ activists can be attributed to the pre-congress purging by Chamisa in which he sidelined members believed to be behind former secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora’s presidential bid. Chamisa is now reported to be ‘weakening’ those who are suspected to be behind sentiments that his co-vice president, Tendai Biti makes for a better leader.
During the meeting, Chamisa revealed that legislators and councillors who are complacent and incompetent would be recalled, singling out MDC Chegutu mayor, Henry Muchatibaya as an example.
Chamisa also told attendees that the party leadership would be embarking on a nationwide tour to mix with the electorate, a move hurriedly organized to rebut the growing allegations that he does not care about the party members and is only interested in assuming State power.
