MDC plotting violence

The violent nature of the Nelson Chamisa led MDC has once again come to the fore with reports that the party is contemplating introducing a para-military wing within its structures as the reconfiguration of the party's post-congress structures continue.

The controversial reconfiguration process, which has faced resistance from the majority of party members, has also seen the party introducing a War Veterans wing as well as dissolving the districts and ward structures, replacing them with Constituency Coordinating Committee (CCC).

The Harare Post has gathered that the newly formed para-military wing is in preparation for the confrontational approach being planned by that party.

The decision to engage a confrontational approach comes after Chamisa was recently ambushed by his deputy, Tendai Biti and the party spokesperson Daniel Molokele at a National Executive meeting in Masvingo, in which the duo accused Chamisa of being too soft.

Recent activities by the MDC prove that the introduction of the para-military wing aims to spearhead the violence against ZANU PF in a bid to force President Emmerson Mnangagwa out of power.

The decision also buttresses a disturbing trend in which MDC officials are increasingly making utterances which promote violence to the extent of threatening to overthrow Zimbabwe's constitutionally-elected President.

During the party's congress in May, Chamisa threatened to unleash war in the country while his deputy chairman, Job Sikhala two weeks ago told party members at a rally in Bikita that the party would overthrow President Mnangagwa. Sikhala was arrested and is facing treason charges.

After being released on bail, Sikhala, while addressing party supporters in Harare South constituency's high density suburb, Hopley, also called on Zimbabweans to invade the streets of Harare in anti-Government demonstrations. Matabeleland South Provincial Chair, Solani Moyo on a different platform, echoed the same sentiments and declared that ZANU PF would be removed from power in the next few months.

"Nelson Chamisa will ascend to the presidency in the next few months," he said.

Chamisa on his twitter handle said, "Beyond the current energy agonies born out of failure to plan and a deficit of leadership, we must dare to dream SMART and BIG.

"We shall get there and soon. We must act to be that change and make prosperity possible," he said.

Political analysts say the sentiments by the MDC leadership clearly show a strategy to incite and engage in violence to unseat a constitutionally elected Government.

A source who spoke to this publication revealed that the para-military wing would comprise of the Democratic Resistance Committees (DRCs), who gained notoriety in 2007 for petrol-bombing police stations in Harare and Mutare, and members of the party's militia, the Vanguard.

"The para-military wing would comprise of DRCs and members of the vanguard which would be tasked with spearheading the violence against the ZANU PF Government," the source revealed on condition of anonymity.

The resuscitation of the DRCs is being funded by Bright Pharmacies' owner and Managing Director, Brighton Chawatama, while self-exiled former Minister, Jonathan Moyo has been tasked with sourcing foreign funding towards the DRCs and the impending violent attacks.

"Bright Chawatama is the leading donor towards the re-introduction of the DRCs while Jonathan Moyo has been tasked with sourcing funding from the Diaspora towards the initiative," said the source.

The MDC has a history of intra-party and inter-party violence since its inception despite the fact that it claims to be a party in pursuit of democracy.