by Mapozho Saruchera
“We as the opposition have no responsibility to make or break peace, unless government authorises it.”
This was Chamisa’s MDC-T national chairperson, Morgan Komichi, trying to shift responsibility of making or breaking peace to the Government during the signing ceremony of the peace pledge binding political parties contesting in the forthcoming elections to a code of conduct compelling them to campaign peacefully.
The pledge was prepared by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) and signed by 17 out of the 23 presidential aspirants.
Not to be outdone in showing their insincerity to the pledge was leader of the MDC, Welshman Ncube, who said peace could only be achieved if those charged with running the elections act in a palpable and fair manner.
“Intelligence officers and soldiers operate to advance political agendas in our communities. As we commit to this peace pledge we hope to see all soldiers withdrawn from the people so that they freely exercise their sovereign right to select a government of their choice,” said Ncube.
What happened to “peace begins with me” if one may ask?
The MDC Alliance representatives used the platform to portray their organization as an establishment incapable of disturbing the peace – a blatant lie! That should they disturb the peace; it will be someone else’s fault – another lie!
There have been various media reports of inter and intra party violence perpetrated by MDC Alliance members without provocation from either the Government or the security services – why not own up on those incidents and leave your reservations for other fora?
Leader of the other MDC – T faction, Thokozani Khupe, legislator Lwazi Sibanda, MDC-T (Chamisa faction) secretary general Douglas Mwonzora were attacked by MDCT-T (Chamisa faction) youths at former MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai’s funeral in Buhera – and it had nothing to do with the Government. Anyone to dispute this?
The youths accused the trio of opposing moves by then acting party president Nelson Chamisa to succeed the late MDC-T leader, who succumbed to cancer of the colon on 14 February 2018.
From the time of Tsvangirai’s burial to date, the MDC-T faction led by Chamisa has perpetrated numerous acts of violence against the other MDC-T faction led by Khupe, probably to derail the latter’s campaign.
An incident still fresh as wet paint happened mid last week when MDC-T (Khupe faction) Harare West aspiring candidate, Elijah Zvimba almost had his vehicle overturned by youths affiliated to Chamisa’s MDC-T faction for merely parking opposite to ‘Chamisa’s headquarters’.
Rewind to the beginning of the same week, there was another incident wherein MDC-T (Khupe Faction) member Tawanda Mutisi was assaulted by Chamisa’s supporters for campaigning in Harare East, which is reserved for MDC-T (Chamisa faction) national secretary for elections, Murisi Zwizwai, under the MDC Alliance.
Within the MDC Alliance itself, members and supporters have unleashed violence on each other because of minor differences or as a means to prop up selfish agendas. Such an incident took place on June 14, 2018 when MDC Alliance member, Tendai Saimoni’s election agent, Knowledge Buranda was manhandled and attacked by suspected MDC Alliance activists who later destroyed his nomination papers, leading to his failure to submit a new set of papers on time. Imagine if they can do this to one of their own? What will happen to outsiders is a matter of anybody’s guess. The MDC has lately become a ring of a game of swords.
The MDC Alliance principals have also not helped matters as they have been caught making statements which might lead to the disturbance of peace. Chamisa is on record having said that the forthcoming elections can only be free and fair if he wins. His counterpart and leader of another faction of the People’s Democratic Party, the foul-mouthed lawyer, Tendai Biti recently added that MDC Alliance will render the country ungovernable should they lose in the said election.
So, there you have it Zimbabweans. The MDC Alliance signed the peace pledge as a campaign weapon. Their machetes are still drawn with the intention of beheading the MDC-T faction led by Khupe and any one from within and without their ranks that dares to be democratic.
