MDC leader Nelson Chamisa yesterday said he was barred from
seeing incarcerated party deputy national chairperson, Job Sikhala, charging
that the situation in the country will now drive people into taking action
against the rule of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Sikhala is facing subversion charges and was remanded in
custody in Masvingo to July 24 after being dramatically whisked out of Harare
where party supporters had gathered at the courts to protest his detention.
Chamisa, who was addressing a rally at a packed 10
000-seater Mucheke Stadium in Masvingo, said he was barred from seeing Sikhala
and that police were deployed to make sure that he doesn’t get into the prison.
“I wanted to see my brother Job Sikhala, so I went to
Masvingo remand and was told he is at Mutimurefu,
so I drove there and I was told he is at Masvingo Remand,
so I went back again. At Masvingo Remand, they barred me from seeing him. It is
very unfortunate,” he said.
“The prison guards said they were given instructions to
first call their seniors. They then called their superiors and told me ‘we will
be fired if we let you in’. I waited for 30 minutes as they called their
seniors in Harare.
Maybe their seniors were calling ED. I kept on waiting till
they said they do not know what to do.
“Later, riot police and the Dispol came, they said they
wanted to check the situation as they feared there maybe commotion. But even
though I am the president of the MDC, I am also a lawyer by profession. Again,
arrested people still have their rights. So I told them I will no longer bother
you, will take other measures,” Chamisa said to thunderous calls for immediate
demonstrations.
The MDC leader also called on Foreign Affairs minister
Sibusiso Moyo’s wife, Loyce Matanda-Moyo, who heads the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption
Commission (Zaac) to investigate and arrest deputy Defence minister
Victor Matemadanda and Health minister Obadiah Moyo for
participating in electoral fraud.
This follows a letter that Matemadanda wrote to the Health
minister asking him to provide drugs to health institutions in Lupane ahead of
a by-election so that Zanu PF wins.
The letter signed by the Health minister, addressed to
Matemadanda and copied to NatPharm managing director Flora Sifeku, permanent
secretary Agnes Mahomva and director of pharmacy R Hove was titled: Request for
assistance in respect of the Lupane East by-election campaign.
“Your letter of 2 July 2019 requesting for medicines for
Lupaka, Gomoza, St Paul, Lake Alice, Lusulu and Lupanda clinics refers. I have
instructed the permanent secretary Dr Mahomva to activate Natpharm to supply
the clinics mentioned with medicines,” reads the letter signed by Moyo.
Chamisa said: “The problem with our country is corruption,
corruption, corruption. I was reading today about Lupane where there is a
by-election. Matemadanda writes to the Health minister seeking drugs so that
Zanu PF wins and Moyo replies saying he will provide drugs so that (they) win.
“It’s abuse of political public office. Immediately, he
must resign and step aside for investigations by Zaac, even though we do not
recognise them.
“That level of corruption is serious. Such a minister
should immediately step aside for investigation and Zaac must investigate and
arrest that person. My brother ED will just be talking about zero tolerance to
corruption, but that is one case of corruption. Doesn’t he see that?” Chamisa
said.
He said MDC will be embarking on a programme to pile
pressure on Mnangagwa.
“We are starting a programme to bring pressure in this
country and diplomatic pressure.”
Chamisa told his supporters to mobilise and brace for more
demonstrations to pile political pressure on Mnangagwa to resolve the political
crisis facing the country following disputed elections held in June last year.
“We are saying be prepared. We plan our things together.
The Constitution allows for demonstrations. If I say those not happy to rise
up, will you rise up? Will you answer to the call? I want to see those that are
ready to respond if we make the call,” Chamisa said.
“Now I have heard that you are ready, we need to do it
peacefully in a non-violent, constitutional manner. The day is coming, the time
is coming, in the not so distant future, you should give us support. Not so
long.
“Zimbabweans have to be free and Zanu PF must go. We do not
want those that backtrack, we want you to give us support. We have been quiet
for too long as Mnangagwa destroys our livelihoods,” he added.
Chamisa also said he was disturbed by Vice-President
Chiwenga’s long absence from public appearance.
“I am really worried about my brother Chiwenga, really
worried. Where is he?”
Chamisa also noted: “We have learnt, yes, [that]
individuals must go, but the fundamental thing that must go is the system. A
system that represents darkness, a system that represents bad governance, a
system that celebrates corruption and a system that is responsible for your
hunger.” The youthful leader then accused Mnangagwa of reading a book of
dictatorship that was previously used by his predecessor Robert Mugabe. Newsday
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