MDC leader Nelson Chamisa reportedly defied advice from his
security team and some of his party leaders who had advised him against
visiting Chimanimani and Chipinge districts, which were devastated by Cyclone
Idai early this week, highly-placed sources said yesterday.
The sources said following a meeting held at Richard Morgan
Tsvangirai House (formerly Harvest House) on Saturday, MDC leaders were divided
over Chamisa’s planned visit to Manicaland, with others expressing concern over
his safety.
“There was debate on whether doing so (visit) now would
take focus away from helping people because a good size of our structures will
then focus on the president’s visit. Chamisa was, however, keen on that, but
his technical team asked him to wait while they assess the feasibility of the
visit,” the source said.
Those against Chamisa going to Manicaland had insisted on
the party deploying a high-powered delegation including vice-president Morgen
Komichi, party secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora, MPs and other leaders, while
they kept their president safe in Harare.
But the source said Chamisa insisted on going, saying
people both within the party and outside needed moral support as well as aid,
and that his safety was secondary.
“He told his security that he was not a coward and would
not hide in Harare, while people suffered, insisting that as a leader he had to
be at the front,” the source said. As the MDC heads for congress in May, party
insiders said if Chamisa had listened to the advice of his team his chances of
retaining the presidency would have been “washed away” in the aftermath of the
storm.
Against the advice of his technical team and security,
Chamisa mobilised aid through other lawyers, party structures and partners
before teaming up with Mwonzora, Komichi and another vice-president Elias
Mudzuri to head to Manicaland province on Monday morning. Chamisa’s
spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda could neither confirm nor deny the debate
surrounding Chamisa’s visit. He only said: “President Chamisa has a team that
gives him advice, he is not a one man band. He, however, has the power to
override advice he receives.”
Chamisa’s tour in Manicaland ignited a social media debate
with some accusing him of using the disaster for political mileage and photo
opportunities, while his supporters commended him for providing leadership.
Spokesperson for the Thokozani Khupe-led MDC-T, Linda
Masarira accused Chamisa of using dead bodies to gain political mileage.
Newsday
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