MDC Alliance president Mr Nelson Chamisa’s visit to jailed
Chief Ndiweni at Khami Prison Complex at the weekend has divided the opposition
party with some members expressing reservations.
Mr Chamisa, on Saturday, visited Chief Ndiweni who was
recently jailed for 18 months for malicious damage to property, while his
co-accused were sentenced to serve community service.
Party insiders yesterday said Mr Chamisa’s visit had caused
a rift among MDC Alliance leaders especially national chairperson, Ms Thabitha
Khumalo, who at the weekend is said to have expressed disappointment that no
national leader visited her while she was in police cells recently.
Ms Khumalo, Senator Helen Zivira Mpofu and five others were
two weeks ago arrested while distributing fliers and mobilising residents in
Nkulumane suburb for a demonstration which police later prohibited.
The source said Ms Khumalo indirectly demanded that Mr
Chamisa among other national party leaders should show similar homage to all
the party members when arrested.
“It seems she was not amused by Chamisa’s visit to Chief
Ndiweni at the Khami Prison Complex over the weekend when no senior party
member visited them after they were arrested in Bulawayo. She said why would
party president Chamisa visit Chief Ndiweni when party members are left to rot
in police cells with no emotional support from other national leaders. In
essence she was questioning the loyalty of senior party members who did little
for them when they were arrested,” said a source.
In addition to expressing unhappiness at the party
leadership’s failure to support her while in custody, Ms Khumalo allegedly
questioned why the party did not pay their bail as the money was released by an
individual MDC Alliance sympathiser.
Ms Khumalo and crew were given each a $200 bail. Contacted for comment, Ms Khumalo said: “What do you want? Sufuna ukubhala itshebetshebe? Go to the
people who told you and get a comment from them. Do not involve me in your
issues, I don’t want to be involved.” Chronicle
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