MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa’s rallies ahead of the
July 30 elections eventually won by President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa (Zanu
PF) attracted bumper crowds that had an opportunity to be titillated by the
young politician’s jokes — many of which were centred on his main rival.
Chamisa’s speeches were laden with satire and witticism
such that people would break into laughter every time he was on the podium.
At some point he would address rallies deep into the night
with the people still in attendance.
“Chamisa was too hilarious at his rallies. He had a mystic,
charismatic and reverent power such that naturally people would want to listen
to him. He would relate well with the elderly due to his rich vernacular
remarks,” former Marondera mayor, Farai Nyandoro, told NewsDay Weekender.
Laughter was the order of the day as Chamisa would
interpret the party’s SMART programme in satirical terms while “dissing”
Mnangagwa, his arch-rival.
“ED asked me where I will get the money to implement all
these projects. I told him we are in an examination. We do not give each other
answers,” said Chamisa in Chivhu during his campaign trail.
In Marondera, he left the crowd in stitches when he
described how good life was going to be if he had become the country’s next
president.
“Ndapinda bedzi mucharohwa nehwadzira, nemunhikwi wemufaro.
Kutemwa musoro nemufaro, zvekuti ukaenda kuchipatara ukanzi chii chanetsa
unongoti mufaro (You are going to enjoy and laugh so much that you will
experience hiccups and if you were to be taken to the hospital, you would tell
them you are suffering from too much joy),”he said.
His jokes were crafted in such a way that he would leave
people in awe before re-crafting the statement, resulting in people breaking
into laughter and cheers.
“Avo vanenge vabatwa HIV, tinongoti rovai mapiritsi
votopora, modzokera kunonakirwazve, kunonakidzwa naJah Prayzah naMacheso (Those
that test HIV positive will easily access their medication and go back to have
fun, dancing to Jah Prayzah and Alick Macheso’s music),” Chamisa said at a
rally in Murewa.
In response to Zanu PF’s tradition of frog-marching
schoolchildren to rallies, Chamisa likened the Zanu PF leader to a headmaster.
“Ndakaona mudhara Ngwena akukokorodza vana vechikoro kuenda
nawo kurally, ndikati iwe mudhara iwe uri headmaster here or head boy (When I
saw Zanu PF commandeering pupils to Mnangagwa’s rallies, I asked him, are you a
headmaster or school head boy),” Chamisa said.
The clock ticked, and on July 30 the nation voted for
leaders of their choice. When Mnangagwa was announced the winner, all the
laughter turned into sorrow and bitterness.
The hilarious jokes that triggered their happiness at
rallies are no longer powerful enough to torch laughter as people go back to
the lives to eke out a living for their families with all the bright prospects
for the future having been dashed to pieces.
Newly-elected MDC Alliance Marondera Central MP, Caston
Matewo, said Chamisa’s conduct on stage worked well in winning him the millions
of votes that he garnered.
“I think he only showed that he was human and more in sync
with the crowd, hence he connected more with them. It worked well and this is
revealed by the number of votes,” he said.
It was a different tale altogether during Zanu PF rallies
where a number of supporters would walk out during speeches.
But today those who walked out are the ones laughing last.
The opposition party followers will now have to wait five more years to resume
those hilarious episodes. For now, the laughter has turned into sorrow and
mourning. Newsday
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