by Christopher Makaza
The July 30 election losing MDC Alliance candidate, Nelson Chamisa has received brickbats for shunning President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration yesterday despite invitation extended to him.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by other opposition political parties including MDC-T leader, Dr Thokozani Khupe.
Zimbabweans took to the social media where they lambasted Chamisa and also applauded former President Robert Mugabe`s gesture of sending his daughter, Bona and her husband Simba Chikowore with a congratulatory message.
Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) leader Trevor Ncube on his Twitter handle posted that, “Robert Mugabe who endorsed Nelson Chamisa sends his daughter and son in law with a statesman like message to President Mnangagwa. Power hungry and immature Nelson Chamisa refuses to attend the event graced by plenty African heads of States.”
Cyber troll Lloyd Msipa tweeted, “Former president Robert Mugabe has sent Bona and Simba Chikowore to congratulate President Mnangagwa on his behalf. Chamisa has effectively been thrown under the bus. This is the unity we need.”
Relatedly, Norton House of Assembly member-elect, Temba Mliswa tweeted, “Sanctions affect all regardless of political affiliation. Congratulation to Khupe for attending yesterday`s inauguration, that’s true leadership. Your debates had a lot of substance and your not being in parliament will create vacuum.”
Responding to critics who on social media accused MDC-T leadership for being desperate by attending the inauguration, MDC-T Deputy President Obert Gutu tweeted, “To start with we are not desperate and we have been in government and parliament before. This was just out of patriotism, we are not desperate at all.”
The glamorous event was also graced by African leaders, among them Chairperson of the African Union and President of Rwanda Mr Paul Kagame, South African President Mr Cyril Ramaphosa, Zambian President Mr Edgar Lungu, DRC President Mr Joseph Kabila, Botswana President Mr Mokgwetsi Masisi and Lesotho Prime Minister Mr Thomas Thabane.
