Army won't allow Nelson Chamisa to lead Zimbabwe (Shape-Up or Pull Out)

Galileo is said to be the man who first observed that the earth was round (though controversial) and his claim landed him in great trouble. He suffered abuse from the society and was almost hanged. The same happened to Jesus Christ, he was crucified for a crime that he didn't commit. Mathew 27:23 'Why? What crime has he committed? Asked Pilate…..'
This paper seeks to advice Nelson Chamisa and his followers that attacking Terrence Mukupe is a waste of time and political energy. Attacking Deputy Minister is like killing a messenger. Just like Galileo and Pilate, Terrance Mukuphe is a messenger of God (if not President Mnangagwa). I don't agree with WaMagaisa's call for Terrance Mukupe's resignation. WaMagaisa and opposition supporters should call for the resignation of the army commander and not (a useless Mukupe) who doesn't own even a security guard company.  What WaMagaisa is doing is to prescribe anti-retroviral pills to a patient suffering 'hangover'.

Deputy minister Mukupe's remarks that (military cannot just grab power and give Chamisa) did not come to me as a surprise. The deputy minister spoke a 'bitter truth' and was on spot. I am therefore calling the opposition supporters to take Mukupe as a messenger from God (if not Mnangagwa), who offered free consultancy by revealing to the Zimbabweans that going for 2018 elections will be just a waste of time and money because the military is not read to give power through the ballot.

Simon Khaya Moyo has exposed a dangerous game between ZANU PF and Zimbabwe military. I still don't understand whether ZANU PF is Zimbabwe Military or Zimbabwe Military is ZANU PF. Mukupe's allegations were directed to the military and under a normal democracy, the military was supposed to give a statement and not ZANU PF via Khaya Moyo. Why did Khaya Moyo (ZANU PF) spoke on behalf of the military? 'Fellow Zimbabweans something is not adding up?'

Up to now, the military has not yet given a statement on Deputy minister's remarks, that is why I agree with Mukupe's advice to the opposition. It is now an open secret that 5000 soldiers were deployed to villages, to do what? Going by Mukupe's remarks, the military has started the process of grabbing power (by force) before the elections. The deployment of 5000 soldiers    to the rural areas ogres well with Mukupe's remarks. Military intervention has already started.

I am very surprised that Nelson Chamisa and his supporters misinterpreted Deputy minister Mukupe by attacking the messenger of God (or Mnangagwa)  before thinking out of the box. I am therefore calling upon the opposition to apologize to Deputy minister Mukuphe with immediate effect because he is a genuine messenger to their movement. It is now up to Chamisa and his team to take appropriate actions on Mukupe's remarks.

I am now convinced that Nelson Chamisa and his team have remained with three options. The first option is to go on the offensive drive within and outside Zimbabwe. Chamisa and team should go to rural areas telling the voters not to be intimidated by the military and vigorously campaigning for the withdrawal of military. They should even call for legal mass action because the presence of military in the rural areas has made the atmosphere to become tense and that atmosphere won't produce free and fair results. Nelson Chamisa should demand for an explanation from the military leadership on the deployment of 5000 soldiers and Mukupe's remarks. If satisfactory answers are not given, Chamisa may think of legally opening the Pandora box in order for citizens to negotiate and engage with the government. Chamisa should send a powerful message to the international community (SADC, AU, UN, Common Wealth etc) . There is now enough evidence to support their claim because what a minister says should not be taken for granted even after apologizing (because the original message has already been sent and delivered)

The second option for Nelson Chamisa and team will be to pull out of the race/election. There is no need for the opposition to waste time and resources going for an election already predetermined.  If Nikuv failed the next option for ZANU PF maybe on military intervention which has already started by the alleged deployment of 5000 soldiers, if the allegations are true, military intervention has already started and Chamisa may consider pulling out.

The last option for Chamisa will be to legitimize ZANU PF government by going for election. If nothing changes, ZANU PF will carry the day because of the military intervention already in place (5000 soldiers) and the ZEC election process that is not transparent

Conclusion
Mukupe is a messenger of God (if not Mnangagwa) to the opposition. The deployment of 5000 soldiers is the beginning of military interventions and Mukupe's remarks is a vindication of what we used to think of.

Nelson Chamisa should shape-up or pull-out.

Don Chigumba is a mixed methods research specialist and can be found on twitter @Donchigumba