by Innocent Mujeri
Citizens have castigated the MDC Alliance Vice Chairperson, Job Sikhala, for urging them to demonstrate against the Government, while he was hiding in the comfort of a G40 member’s house.
Citizens’ complaints came after Sikhala was retrieved last Friday by the police from a ceiling of Sarah Mahoka’s house in Tynwald North, where he was hiding.
Sikhala was on police wanted list for inciting the public to violently demonstrate against the Government last month.
“We feel betrayed by Sikhala. He was urging us to demonstrate against the Government, while he was living comfortably in Mahoka’s house. Sikhala should stop using us as pawns for his selfish political gains,” said one Michael from Chitungwiza.
One resident of Warren Park D, known as Wezhaz said the videos of Sikhala in the bush were choreographed to satisfy a certain political agenda.
“Sikhala has never been in the bush as he wanted us to believe. His arrest exposed that he was enjoying life with Mahoka, while using social media to urge us to demonstrate. I am starting to believe that the video of Sikhala in the bush was shot somewhere in Harare and was only released to the public to attract sympathy. Everything was being stage managed,” said Wezhaz.
Another man who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said it was bad for Sikhala to incite people to protest, while he was busy pleasuring himself with Mahoka.
“It’s not a secret that Sikhala and Mahoka are an item. But I’m angry at Sikhala for urging us to demonstrate, while he was having quality time with Mahoka. He wants us to risk our lives while preserving his own,” said the disgruntled man.
An MDC insider who spoke to this publication also said all was not well in the MDC Alliance as Nelson Chamisa was allegedly not happy with the limelight that Sikhala was now getting and he insinuated that the top officials in that party might have informed the police of Sikhala’s whereabouts.
“All is not well in the MDC Alliance. Chamisa is not happy with Sikhala’s populist stance and he is doing everything to get rid of him. That is why Chamisa didn’t endorse the July 31 protests because he feared that Sikhala would have stolen the limelight from him if they had succeeded. Chamisa now view Sikhala as a threat and his direct rival who should be politically silenced,” said the insider.
The same insider said Chamisa was not amused by the fact that Sikhala accepted the responsibility of being the July 31 protests spokesperson without consulting his leadership.
“Sikhala accepted the task of being Spokesperson of the July 31 movement without consulting the leadership. He was asked about it by Chamisa and he said he failed to consult him because he thought Chamisa was still mourning the death of his mother. Chamisa was not happy with such a response and that might be the reason he is yet to issue a statement in solidarity with Sikhala,”added the source.
Meanwhile, another contact within the MDC Alliance informed this publication that Sikhala is fed up with the leadership of Chamisa and is planning to launch another party.
“Sikhala is planning to launch his party and is enjoying the limelight he is getting from his arrest as he wants to use that to gain sympathy from the people. He is portraying himself to the Western embassies as a more militant and braver leader than Chamisa,” said the contact.
The contact further said Sikhala, together with his lawyer Eric Matinenga and one Cleopatra Muchenje held a meeting sometime in July and an agreement was reached to launch a party.
Sikhala is believed to have told Matinenga that he regrets coming back to MDC as the leadership is immature, ineffective and too soft. Matinenga has been promised the vice presidency of the new political project.
Sikhala is in remand prison after he was arrested on allegations of inciting the public to violently demonstrate. He is expected to appear in court today for bail hearing.
