News / Local
Chamisa strategising on how to stop the looming by-elections
18 Nov 2023 at 04:35hrs | Views
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader by Nelson Chamisa yesterday said his party was making fresh deliberations on how to stop the looming by-elections from being held owing to escalating political violence.
He was addressing mourners gathered in Mabvuku at the funeral wake of slain party activist Tapfumaneyi Masaya.
Masaya was found dead on Monday after he had been abducted in Mabvuku two days earlier while campaigning for party candidate Febion Kufahakutizwi ahead of the December 9 by-elections.
Several other CCC party members have been abducted and tortured by suspected State security agents post the August 23 and 24 polls.
Chamisa decried the escalating political violence which had claimed lives ahead of the December 9 by-elections.
"This matter is only an indication of a country sliding into further abyss and tyranny. The family is shocked. They didn't expect this to happen," he said.
"The issues of by-elections are mere sideshows. How do you have a country without hospitals, medicines and schools without books and civil servants that are underpaid but can afford to have US$5 million to throw away (for the by elections) in a dark hole."
Chamisa named President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the kingpin behind the recalls.
"This is not about Tshabangu. He is not the problem. The real creator is Mr Mnangagwa. He is the one who is at the centre of it. Why? Because he would not have rushed to declare the elections when he knew that the recalls were a criminal act," he said.
"The recalls are criminal and fraudulent. We will fight the recalls and illegalities. Of course the courts have their limitations but we will leave no stone unturned. We are doing everything we can, politically, diplomatically and also legally to make sure we exhaust all avenues. There is no need for by-elections to be held in this country."
He was addressing mourners gathered in Mabvuku at the funeral wake of slain party activist Tapfumaneyi Masaya.
Masaya was found dead on Monday after he had been abducted in Mabvuku two days earlier while campaigning for party candidate Febion Kufahakutizwi ahead of the December 9 by-elections.
Several other CCC party members have been abducted and tortured by suspected State security agents post the August 23 and 24 polls.
Chamisa decried the escalating political violence which had claimed lives ahead of the December 9 by-elections.
"The issues of by-elections are mere sideshows. How do you have a country without hospitals, medicines and schools without books and civil servants that are underpaid but can afford to have US$5 million to throw away (for the by elections) in a dark hole."
Chamisa named President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the kingpin behind the recalls.
"This is not about Tshabangu. He is not the problem. The real creator is Mr Mnangagwa. He is the one who is at the centre of it. Why? Because he would not have rushed to declare the elections when he knew that the recalls were a criminal act," he said.
"The recalls are criminal and fraudulent. We will fight the recalls and illegalities. Of course the courts have their limitations but we will leave no stone unturned. We are doing everything we can, politically, diplomatically and also legally to make sure we exhaust all avenues. There is no need for by-elections to be held in this country."
Source - newsday
