OPPOSITION MDC-T and MDC Alliance presidential candidate
Nelson Chamisa yesterday said he would today confront President Emmerson
Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson Priscilla
Chigumba to demand answers after his party officials were allegedly barred from
witnessing the printing of the ballot papers in Harare on Saturday.
Addressing a campaign rally at Mvurwi Stadium in Mazowe
North constituency, Chamisa accused Zec of bending all electoral regulations to
rig the elections in favour of Mnangagwa.
“If we do not agree on ballot papers, there will be no
elections this year. I was told that our party members were not given time to
witness the printing of papers, hence tomorrow (today), I am going to see
Chigumba and Mnangagwa. If we do not agree on that, there will be no
elections,” he said.
Mnangagwa is currently out of the country attending an
African Union summit, which ends today in Mauritania.
The claims were also confirmed by MDC Senator David Coltart
and MDC-T executive member Jameson Timba, who indicated that they were barred
from entering the premises where the ballot papers were being printed.
Chamisa said he had also gathered reports that Zec had
changed the format of the presidential ballot papers and placed him
side-by-side with Mnangagwa, instead of following the alphabetical order which
would have placed him on second position with the Zanu PF leader 15th on the
candidates list.
Chamisa said the changes were meant to confuse some of the
voters into voting for Mnangagwa.
The youthful opposition presidential aspirant also
disclosed that former Zanu PF strongman Robert Mugabe had endorsed his
candidature.
“How can we lose an election to a disjointed ruling party?
Mugabe pledged to vote for me. So if you do not vote for me, Mugabe will do so.
Hence, if I happen to lose, I will know that it is you, not Mugabe, since I
already have his vote,” he told the rally.
Chamisa also called on Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga
to take a break from politics, saying the former military commander had failed
to find his feet in the country’s fast-shifting political terrain.
“Chiwenga is a military man. He should relax and leave us
the young people to govern the country. Recently, he said people of Zimbabwe
should not worry about cash. Honestly, how can he say that cash is not
important? Give me a chance in government and enjoy life,” Chamisa pleaded.
He took the opportunity to endorse MDC-T aspiring
legislator Tulani Ndlovu ahead of MDC Alliance candidate Tinashe Muchenje.
“We know you had problems with your candidates here, but we
have seen that Ndlovu is more popular and with him, we are assured of winning
the seat. He stands a better chance against the incumbent MP Martin Dinha (Zanu
PF),” he said.
Chamisa also blasted the government for failing to deliver
and said stability was brought by the late former Prime Minister Morgan
Tsvangirai in the Government of National Unity (GNU), which he said was an
“appetiser”.
“This government has failed. It was stabilised by the late
Tsvangirai in the (GNU). At least we have something to prove to you that we can
deliver. The so-called new dispensation under Mnangagwa is nothing, as they
have brought nothing in seven months of power,” he said.
“There is nothing called new dispensation. Mugabe and
Mnangagwa are the same. Ngwena (Mnangagwa) served Mugabe for 52 years, so what
is new now? Do not be deceived these old people. He should just go and rest.”
He promised better health facilities, aiming a jibe at Zanu
PF top officials who were airlifted to neighbouring South Africa for better
medication after they were injured during a bomb explosion at Mnangagwa’s White
City Stadium rally last week.
“If voted into office, our health sector will be super, not
what we are witnessing from Zanu PF. (Some) people were airlifted to South
Africa. Why South Africa yet we have hospitals here? Just because you are a top
Zanu PF official you can go to South Africa, where there is medication. How
about those at the periphery? How do they survive?” he queried.
Chamisa said corruption was a cancer in Zanu PF since most
of its officials were buying houses and developing other countries at the
expense of Zimbabwe.
“Zanu PF officials are so corrupt. You see them buying
houses in foreign countries. Why do they want to invest in other countries? It
is because of corruption. That should stop by voting them out.” Newsday
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