by Claver Nyuki
There is a large number of individuals who have argued that the MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa, for all his popularity still lacks that political maturity to be a good leader, and at 40, one wonders if he will ever attain the required maturity or if that ship has long since sailed without him.
Since assuming the MDC Alliance leadership in March of this year, following the death of its founding member, Morgan Tsvangirai, albeit under controversial circumstances, Chamisa has made headlines for all the wrong reasons, strengthening the public assumption that the man is a bit immature to aspire to lead the country.
The Alliance statement on the State of the Nation Address (SONA) by President Emmerson Mnangagwa is a new low from the MDC alliance which has ignited public debate on whether or not Chamisa can lead the opposition party effectively, let alone harbour ambitions to lead the country.
The Alliance Presidential spokesperson, Nkululeko Sibanda’s chauvinist statement which implied that the new Minister of Youth, Sport, Art and Recreation, Hon Kirsty Coventry is only good for child bearing is atrocious and does not deserve to be part of this generation’s line of thinking.
Dr Sibanda chose to ignore Hon Coventry’s achievements over the years, representing Zimbabwe on the International scene with distinction and how she repelled overtures from other countries who offered her citizenship, choosing to remain true to Zimbabwe.
If other countries, developed countries saw and valued her that much, why then did Chamisa and his cronies decide to belittle her achievements and her qualifications as a Minister?
It is worth noting that the complete disregard of women is nothing new in the MDC Alliance camp. We all remember Chamisa declaring that if President Mnangagwa wins the 2018 Presidential election he would ‘give’ him his sister, in this day and age, how can one objectify women like that?
As if that is not enough, the sexual abuse suffered by the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Justice Priscilla Chigumba at the hands of Chamisa leaves a lot to be desired. The alleged expose of Chigumba’s private life was uncalled for and labelling her as ‘hure’ is deplorable and disgusting.
The MDC-T leader Dr Thokozani Khupe was also a victim of abuse from the Alliance supporters who labelled her as ‘hure.’ The Harare West Alliance legislator, Joanna Madamombe spearheaded the attack on Khupe, disgraceful that a woman could be used to attack other women negating the empowerment drive being propagated by the new administration.
The MDC Alliance is quickly running out of ideas to remain relevant until the next harmonised elections in 5 years. The hackling of the President during his address in Parliament and the subsequent “walk out” by that party’s legislators further proves the point that the one who issues the orders still needs to mature in order for the country’s politics to improve.
