Chamisa's aide lampoons Mnangagwa

Advocate Nelson Chamisa's aide, Gift Ostallos Siziva, has sharply criticised President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration over the newly introduced digital services tax, describing it as an assault on ordinary Zimbabweans.

Speaking on Tuesday, Siziva said the tax imposes an "unjust burden" on citizens already struggling under economic pressures. "The introduction of the digital services tax is a direct assault on ordinary people already stretched to breaking point. These are not marginal adjustments, they are drastic escalations. This is a fascist, extractive approach to governance," he said.

Siziva accused the government of targeting citizens instead of tackling Zimbabwe's deeper economic challenges. "Instead of fixing a collapsed economy, restoring confidence, or curbing corruption, the regime has opted to tax convenience, survival, and participation in the digital economy. Workers, vendors, SMEs, and young people are once again paying for elite failure," he said.

Describing Zimbabwe as a "vampire state," Siziva added: "It is feeding on its own citizens to sustain incompetence, extravagance, and impunity! We must organize!!!"

The remarks reflect growing opposition concerns over the economic impact of the digital services tax, particularly on small businesses, informal traders, and the youth, who rely heavily on digital platforms for work, communication, and commerce.