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Zimbabwe on brink of political catastrophe

Zimbabwe on brink of political catastrophe

October 30, 2018

MDC-Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa
MARCUS MUSHONGA & DANAI MWARUMBA
HARARE, (CAJ News) – POLITICAL tensions are running high in Zimbabwe, where the ruling party is organising its annual conference and the opposition is planning protests to force President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa
The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) is finalising preparations for its 17th Annual National People’s Conference set for the southern city of Gwanda.

Groundwork has been marred by threats by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance to march to the State House, the official residence of the president.

Nelson Chamisa is behind calls for such marches, as he still claims he won the presidential poll on July 30.

He accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of rigging the election.

“I will be going to every area, where I will be setting out the plan,
something big in this country — hold your cards on the intended march to State House from this venue,” Chamisa told supporters in Harare.

The government has warned the opposition against such protests.

“Let those mulling to cause anarchy and to disturb peace be warned that they will live to regret, as the full wrath of the law will catch up with them,” said deputy minister of information, Energy Mutodi.

The ruling party ZANU-PF also issued a chilling warning.

“The MDC-Alliance leadership must bear the consequence of such misguided conduct and avoid playing with fire,” ZANU-PF spokesman, Simon Khaya Moyo, said.

The tensions evoke memories of the killing of seven civilians as the army opened fire on protesters on August 1, amid demonstrations over the handling of the polls by ZEC.

Zimbabwe is currently facing severe economic crises.

– CAJ News

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