Political Reporter
The survey findings by Afrobarometer and the British-based Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU), that projected ZANU PF and President Mnangagwa’s 2023 electoral victory, have forced the MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa to press a panic button.
Chamisa is reportedly planning to reject the 2023 presidential election outcome and has already come up with a cocktail of measures that will cement his case.
A source close to the embattled opposition leader said Chamisa had plans to recruit, a legal and media team that would hype his “elections were rigged” chorus.
The source revealed that Chamisa’s intelligence team informed him that due to the factional squabbles currently bedeviling that party coupled with the successes of the Government’s economic turnaround efforts, the MDC Alliance would find it an uphill battle to romp to victory in the 2023 elections.
“After getting reports from his intelligence team, Chamisa has taken a decision to reject the outcome of the 2023 presidential elections. He does not want to humbly accept his imminent electoral loss. He does not want to join the Political Actors Dialogue preferring to carve a role for himself outside the electoral processes,” said the source.
The source added that Chamisa vowed that whatever the outcome of the 2023 presidential elections, he would be in Government and he plans to vehemently reject the outcome to force for an inclusive Government akin to that of post 2008 elections. However, this time, Chamisa prefers a pact that would be guaranteed by the Western-sponsored reform agenda.
The MDC Alliance leader has recruited some journalists from the independent media houses to ramp up his publicity and to organize centre spreads in the newspapers where he would be speaking on current affairs and related electoral matters in a bid to maintain his image to the public.
The source said Hopewell Chin’ono, who has been appointed as one of the chief advisors of the party, was helping in the recruitment of journalists who will be spin doctors for Chamisa.
The same source said the MDC Alliance had already started compiling lists of eligible voters in every ward, which they will compare with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (ZEC) voters’ roll. However, the source said the MDC A was exaggerating the figures so that they will be able to falsely accuse ZEC of rigging.
The source added that Chamisa was planning all these unorthodox means amid reports that his benefactors, the West has given him the last chance, failure of which will see him being forced to pave way for another person. The US is reported to have identified Tendai Biti or Jacob Ngarivhume as the next face of the opposition should Chamisa fails to wrestle power in 2023.
Political analyst, Tichaona Charuma accused Chamisa of holding the country at ransom for his selfish political gains.
“Chamisa’s negative attitude towards POLAD and his plans to reject the 2023 election outcome clearly shows that he wants to hold the nation at ransom until it surrenders to his desire to ascend to power through unconstitutional means. He wants to punish people through his ‘kudira jecha’ tricks for rejecting him,” said Charuma.
The country will go to election in 2023 with very slim chances that the MDC Alliance would win. The faction-riddled party is currently in sixes and sevens. The party is divided between Chamisa’s faction and the Maruva/Kensington Cabal led by the former’s erstwhile close allies such as Charlton Hwende, Murisi Zwizwai, Happymore Chidziva, Obey Sithole, and Amos Chibaya among others. Indications on the ground are that by the time elections arrive, the MDC Alliance would have been rendered asunder several times.
