Harare- Zimbabwe opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has described utterances by President Mnangagwa insinuating that some political activists were rogue elements and terrorists who want to destabilise the country.
In an interview with South Africa television channel SABC, Chamisa said finger pointing is not helpful as it escalates the problems in the country.
“It’s very unfortunate that we are getting these reckless statement from the leadership of the country at a time our country is in very dire and serious circumstances in terms of corruption, indicators economically and political stalemate and crisis we have. The human rights abuses we have and the nature of our state and disunity in our country on account of political polarization.
“We want a unifying figure, a father figure. We need a leader who is able to bring people together, to unite people in peace, love, harmony and stability but what we then have is finger pointing which is not helpful because it escalates the problem in the country instead of healing we are creating new wounds, instead of bringing together we are tearing apart. You cannot call your citizens rogue or terrorists you have to make sure that you unify instead of dividing.” said Chamisa
Recent arrests and attacks on citizens at the hands of the state Chamisa said were a result of the legitimacy crisis around the 2018 elections.
“What we have seen over the pasts few weeks by way of abductions detention illegal and unlawful arrest increase of human rights abuse especially at the hands of the state, abuse of journalists, lawyers and citizens at large, it’s an escalation of the crisis that has already been there. A problem of legitimacy around the 2018 elections, the legitimacy crisis is actually sowing all this.
“It’s an indication of a fragile state where citizens are in the peripheries, people are being treated as suspects. Without being at the centre of decision making. The democratic space is being eroded citizens are not allowed to freely express themselves as enshrined in the constitution. Demonstrations are legal as something enshrined in the constitution.” he added