By Ashley Kondo
MDC leader, Nelson Chamisa, is desperate to keep up appearance and remain relevant on Zimbabwe’s political turf in the aftermath of the July 30 harmonised elections.
This was reaffirmed by his rantings during the party’s 19th anniversary celebrations which were held at Gwanzura Stadium, in Harare, last Saturday.
Addressing scores of party members and supporters that attended the event, the opposition leader abused the platform to prate about his political misfortunes, after suffering electoral defeat at the hands of President Emmerson Mnangagwa during this year’s polls.
Chamisa, who is now in the habit of regularly calling for press conferences just to gain some media recognition and publicity, had nothing new to say except to incite the gathering to revolt against a duly elected Government.
While delivering his keynote address last Saturday, Chamisa amplified allegations that this year’s elections were stolen.
He accused ZANU PF of rigging this year’s elections in connivance with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Chamisa also attempted to downplay the Commission of Inquiry that was set up to investigate the 1 August 2018 violence that resulted in fatalities alleging the commission was inappropriate.
He told the gathering that the MDC would not accept the Commission’s findings other than the arrest and trial of people in Government and those implicated by video and pictorial evidence.
Moving forward, Chamisa disclosed to the gathering that he would lead massive protests that would force President Mnangagwa to relinquish power and pave way for his ascension to the throne as the “legitimate” heir.
It is quiet ironic that the MDC fames itself as a democratic movement that adheres to and abides by tenets of democracy, but its actions and machinations do not show the same.
It can be recalled that Chamisa’s rise to the party leader position after the death of Dr Tsvangirai was heavily contested as unprocedural and resulted in a leadership wrangle between himself and Dr Thokazani Khupe who equally stood the chance to lead the party.
The leadership dispute between Chamisa and Dr Khupe resulted in the fracturing of the party ahead of the 2018 polls leading to the breakaway of the MDC-T Khupe faction.
Recently, the embattled opposition leader, recalled Chegutu, Masvingo and Victoria Falls Council Mayors, a development which drew criticism from many quarters of society who described the move as an act of dictatorship and nepotism.
It boggles the mind that after all due processes, including casting the ballot and the Constitutional Court hearing were followed, defiant Chamisa still refuses to recognise an elected Government.
It is rather sad to note that Chamisa has managed to court and capture some institutions and associations such as trade unions, student unions, some human rights organisations and a section of disgruntled war veterans.
Through a coordinated approach, the said institutions are now sailing in the same boat with Chamisa and singing along to his tune.
Delivering a solidarity message during the MDC anniversary celebrations, Tajamuka/Sesijikile’s Elvis Mugari vowed to support Chamisa in his political endeavours saying his organisation was ready to water the tree of democracy with “water and blood”.
Mugari went on to demand that President Mnangagwa should step down before November 17 and pave way for Chamisa’s rule before threatening mass action, if the President did not heed the call.
Similarly, Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTC) President, Peter Mutasa, encouraged civil disobedience saying they citizens should not fear arrests because they were less prison cells in the country.
While Chamisa and his proxies’ statements are tantamount to criminal offences, they are intended to ferment anarchy in the country.
For Chamisa, creating a political crisis in the country is the only way to maintain relevance and ensure his grip on power in the MDC.
