Nelson Chamisa Attacks Mnangagwa Over Banning of CCC Rallies, Job Sikhala's Incarceration

  • VOA News

FILE: Nelson Chamisa speaking to reporters outside Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison

The interim leader of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Nelson Chamisa, has castigated President Emmerson Mnangagwa for allegedly trying to box his party into a corner in order to spark chaos in Zimbabwe, ahead of the forthcoming presidential, parliamentary and council elections.

Chamisa told NewZimbabwe.com, an online publication, that the “persecution” of CCC members should stop. He said police have so far denied the party 68 times to hold rallies nationwide.

He castigated Mnangagwa’s government for locking up CCC Zengeza West lawmaker, Job Sikhala, for allegedly inciting political violence.

The publication qoted Chamisa as saying, “I know that Mr. Mnangagwa wants to provoke us so that there is a justification to drive this country into anarchy. We have resisted the temptation because we are nation builders, because we want Zimbabwe to be the best country, the greatest country.”

He further noted that “now is the time. As I always say, God is in it and no man can stop an idea whose time has come. Continuing and perpetuating the past is simply continuing and perpetuating the suffering, rottenness, brokenness, disappointment and a plethora of unfulfilled and unmet commitments and promises.”

According to NewZimbabwe.com, Chamisa said, “The situation testifies how sick the nation is, how sick Zimbabwe is. Our politics is broken. Our politics is sick. There is no reason why on trumped-up charges anybody should be incarcerated and placed behind bars. It’s vindictive. It’s persecution. It’s rule by law not the rule of law. It’s the weaponization of the law and the judiciary and that is wrong. That is wrong and we must end that this year.”

Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba, was unreachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.