by Staff reporter
Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume has been heavily critisised by LEAD leader Linda Masarira and former MDC-T Vice President Obert Gutu after he issued phone numbers belonging to the US Embassy Harare, Canadian Embassy and the European Union Zimbabwe on social media, encouraging people to call and make noise over the arrest of activist Hopewell Chin’ono and MDC-Alliance Deputy Chairperson Job Sikhala.
Ngarivhume was labelled a sellout, by the two politicians for involving foreigners on domestic issues.
Yesterday on his Twitter handle, Ngarivhume gave out the phone numbers of foreign embassies and urged Zimbabweans to use these contacts to lobby these missions to make noise for the release of Chin’ono and Sikhala. He posted that, “Fellow Zimbabweans, today l challenge us to do something l felt would help our colleagues in Prison. Hopewell, Job are spending another night away from their families. As a father, l can tell you this is soul crushing.”
Responding to Ngarivhume’s tweet, Masarira said Zimbabwe’ problems should be fixed by Zimbabweans, encouraging Ngarivhume to stop involving Western Embassies on the country’s struggles.
“Calls for what? Zimbabwe’s problems will be fixed by Zimbabweans not foreign Embassies. Zimbabwe is a sovereign state vaNgarivhume. Isu ve Bikita hatina muono wakadai, musandinyadzisewo kudai vahanzvadzi.
“What are these foreign embassies supposed to do? Stop sub-contracting our socioeconomic struggle to western Embassies. Have you ever tried engaging with those politicians you allege are looting. What has MNC in Zimbabwe done other than looting our resources and externalising funds,” says Masarira.
Gutu in his response tweeted, “I respect you as a brother Jacob. But just tell me, what the hell is this? Are you for real? I suggest you take a crash course on International Relations.”
Cyber troll Zandatoto @xandatoto responded that, “I would rather assist with WhatsApp numbers of our President and his Deputies, Ministers and Permanent Secretaries.”
Ngarivhume is a well-known Government critic and was the organiser of the flopped 31 July 2020 mass demonstration, where he and Chin’ono were arrested and charged with incitement to commit public violence.
Chin’ono was recently arrested on charges of communicating false information on social media, his third arrest inside six months.
