Nelson Chamisa: When 'gaffes' become serious

Nelson Chamisa has made many outlandish claims over the last few months;  whether promising Zimbabweans that President Trump had personally promised him $15 billion if the MDC were to win the forthcoming elections or, last week, lying that he had met the Nkomo family, even proclaiming that they they had offered him Dr. Nkomo's knobkerrie, which became quickly apparent to be utter fantasy.

The pattern is set; Chamisa spins some implausible web of deceit before moving on, faster than a bullet train to Bulawayo, to some other fictitious fantasy, ad infinitum. The award-winning journalist, Hopewell Chin'ono even offers up a "Wambalogy of the Week", to point out and laugh at Chamisa's current wheeze.

Yet, its not all fun and games. These flights of fantasy have been dismissed by his supporters as grandstanding or populist politics. However, Chamisa's claims are becoming bolder and more dangerous. Over the weekend, he told a rally in Masvingo Province that "This time around the election is going to produce one outcome and that is victory for the MDC alliance…This election is going to be very different because I am even ready to take power either by votes or by other means"

The message is loud and clear. Nelson Chamisa believes he is destined to be President of Zimbabwe and will stop at nothing to fulfil his fantasy. These elections are not about the MDC or even Zimbabwean voters, but one man's lust for power. It appears that he will stop at nothing until that thirst is quenched, "we are not going to leave any stone unturned…we are going to bring into the streets guys from Mbare Musika."

As with his previous "gaffes", his supporters will claim that Chamisa has merely overstepped the mark of vigorous campaigning or he is suffering from a touch of youthful exuberance. This may be true. The pressures of a defining election are immense. Chamisa has previously never been the focus of a national campaign. There is yet to be born a politician that has never succumbed to bluster or exaggeration. However, important questions need to be asked; is this MDC of Morgan Tsvangirai? Is this the man to lead Zimbabwe into a new era of peace and prosperity?

There comes a time where we must take the words of a man at face value. At best, these words are the careless rantings of an inexperienced leader, at worst they are a clear incitement to violence and offer foreboding for the future. Those that value democracy and rule of law should speak out. True Zimbabweans, regardless of political creed, should denounce any attempt to use intimidation and violence. Now, more than ever before, Zimbabwe's future is in the hands of its people and not a precious stone to be worn around the neck of one man.

As Martin Luther King preached, "the ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral; begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it."

Charles, student, Harare