Opinion / Columnist
Chamisa should stop spreading 'fake news'
22 Jun 2018 at 11:57hrs | Views
As we get nearer to the elections, the lies get stronger and more outlandish.
One example is Nelson Chamisa's recent pronouncement that his opposition was making attempts on his life.
"I hear they have set up teams that are following me but they won't succeed in their mission because I have an angelic ark that is around me, so these earthly attempts will fail even if they want to kill me," said the MDC leader.
Apart from his constant references to himself in blasphemous God-like language, the assertion is absurd for many reasons.
Firstly, while a statement like this in previous elections during the time of Robert Mugabe would certainly be taken seriously, during this campaign there has not been even a hint of danger or under-handed attempts taken against Chamisa.
In fact, the opposite is true.
For the first time, Chamisa and the MDC were given full permission to hold a demonstration through the streets of Harare, when even a Zanu PF rally was cancelled to accommodate the Opposition.
Chamisa freely danced through the streets, surrounded by his omnipresent paramilitary Vanguard without a worry in the world.
Even the MDC Alliance Spokesperson Welshman Ncube stated that his party has no security worries whatsoever.
While admitting to messing up the registration of almost 100 MDC candidates, yesterday, he said he could not even claim security issues were a factor. Ncube said that the MDC during the "2013 election had issues around the security of candidates which we do not have now."
So, when even his spokesperson has negated the possibility of security fears, Chamisa had better have some proper evidence to back up his allegations.
He knows that in today's scramble for media headlines, the more outrageous statements the more likely they will be splashed on the front pages the following day.
Nevertheless, we Zimbabweans should demand hard evidence for Chamisa's claims or dismiss them outright.
In other words, put up or shut up.
We know in campaign season lots of things are said to gain exposure and hold the agenda, but we should not let our politicians step over the line into outright lies without providing a shred of evidence.
As in a criminal court of law, the burden is on the accuser to prove beyond doubt their claims.
So far this has not been the case in Chamisa's accusations. He has not presented a shred of evidence, just hearsay.
Perhaps he is scrambling to reshape the narrative that has him as someone who has been accused of violence, like by his opponent Thokozani Khupe, while President Mnangagwa has received plaudits for speaking about peace and unity and outstretching his hand to his opponents.
Spreading lies without foundation will not change this. Chamisa has to emulate the president more and not be seen using groundless scare tactics and messianic proclamations.
One example is Nelson Chamisa's recent pronouncement that his opposition was making attempts on his life.
"I hear they have set up teams that are following me but they won't succeed in their mission because I have an angelic ark that is around me, so these earthly attempts will fail even if they want to kill me," said the MDC leader.
Apart from his constant references to himself in blasphemous God-like language, the assertion is absurd for many reasons.
Firstly, while a statement like this in previous elections during the time of Robert Mugabe would certainly be taken seriously, during this campaign there has not been even a hint of danger or under-handed attempts taken against Chamisa.
In fact, the opposite is true.
For the first time, Chamisa and the MDC were given full permission to hold a demonstration through the streets of Harare, when even a Zanu PF rally was cancelled to accommodate the Opposition.
Chamisa freely danced through the streets, surrounded by his omnipresent paramilitary Vanguard without a worry in the world.
Even the MDC Alliance Spokesperson Welshman Ncube stated that his party has no security worries whatsoever.
So, when even his spokesperson has negated the possibility of security fears, Chamisa had better have some proper evidence to back up his allegations.
He knows that in today's scramble for media headlines, the more outrageous statements the more likely they will be splashed on the front pages the following day.
Nevertheless, we Zimbabweans should demand hard evidence for Chamisa's claims or dismiss them outright.
In other words, put up or shut up.
We know in campaign season lots of things are said to gain exposure and hold the agenda, but we should not let our politicians step over the line into outright lies without providing a shred of evidence.
As in a criminal court of law, the burden is on the accuser to prove beyond doubt their claims.
So far this has not been the case in Chamisa's accusations. He has not presented a shred of evidence, just hearsay.
Perhaps he is scrambling to reshape the narrative that has him as someone who has been accused of violence, like by his opponent Thokozani Khupe, while President Mnangagwa has received plaudits for speaking about peace and unity and outstretching his hand to his opponents.
Spreading lies without foundation will not change this. Chamisa has to emulate the president more and not be seen using groundless scare tactics and messianic proclamations.
Source - Knowledge Moyo
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