Mnangagwa needs a miracle, says Chamisa

MDC-T leader and MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa yesterday declared that next month's general elections can only be adjudged as free and fair if he wins the presidential race against his arch-rival Zanu-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Chamisa told party supporters at a rally held in Kadoma that only a miracle would save Zanu-PF party from defeat.

"We are telling everyone, Sadc, Europe and the US that we want a free and fair election. I know that if I don't win then it's not a free and fair election. We want a people's government. The bullet must be guided by the ballot. Politics must be controlled by the people and politics must control the gun.

"It's an anomaly we want to correct. We cannot have leaders coming out of guns, grenades or bombs but from the people of Zimbabwe," Chamisa said to wild cheers.

Chamisa suggested that Zanu-PF was resorting to violence after realising it was staring defeat at the polls.

"We are aware that when Zanu-PF smells defeat it turns to violence. I have been going around, in government, war veterans, teachers, nurses, women, Matabeleland, Mashonaland, and Manicaland they are all calling for change.

"They are singing the MDC Alliance song. We will not lose an election in this country. We are ready to lead. They say I am young but I have asked how old (Vice-President Constantino) Chiwenga was when he joined government. If anything they have made greater mistakes than me. We are ready for victory," the Kuwadzana East lawmaker said.

Chamisa added: "It will be a miracle for Zanu-PF to survive this election. We have rejected the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec)'s shenanigans. They stole elections from (late MDC-T leader Morgan) Tsvangirai but it will not happen again. (Zec chairperson) Chigumba you must listen to what Zimbabwe wants."

The MDC Alliance presidential candidate said Zec was working with his rival and former Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khupe to give Mnangagwa an advantage in the elections and threatened to shut down the economy.

"We hear they are already fighting in Zanu-PF, we will wait for the winner and finish them off (at election)," he said.

Chamisa said he will "not make the mistake of going into a coalition with Zanu-PF again. Forget it."

He intimated that Mnangagwa was the "godfather of corruption" citing the President's interests in oil and chrome mining sectors.

The MDC Alliance leader said Mnangagwa had spurned his plea for a meeting, adding "I could end up meeting (former President Robert) Mugabe because he is a former President and an elder. The young must meet the old."