MDC Alliance president Nelson Chamisa has admonished President Emmerson Mnangagwa for stoking fires of hostility through weaponising the law and arbitrary arrests of his opponents and government critics.
This comes after MDC Alliance vice-chairperson Job Sikhala and party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, as well as journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, were recently arrested on allegations of communicating falsehoods.
Speaking in an interview with the NewsDay on Monday, Chamisa warned that the country was sliding back into anarchy and tyranny saying the government was taking advantage of the coronavirus. He said:
We are sliding back into anarchy and tyranny. Whereas we have COVID-19, we have a pandemic of authoritarianism. We have a disease of despotism and dictatorship, escalation of persecution by prosecution.
It is an attempt to poison the nation and stoke fires of hostility. Instead of my opposite number Mnangagwa being a father figure, he is choosing to behave like the last born in the family, starting fires and mischief when we need a Head of State and sober mind.
Chamisa further warned Mnangagwa against “starting fires” but should rather extinguish them and stop harassing citizens. He said:
We don’t need to be pyromaniacs. He is in the habit of starting fires and a government leader must not start fires but extinguish them.
This is advice I am giving to my opposite number Mnangagwa for free. He who starts fires often gets burnt by those fires. This is genuine elderly advice.
Stop harassing citizens. It’s always wise not to make the mistake of growing old without growing up. Zimbabwe needs maturity and magnanimity, as well as tolerance in politics.
