STAFF WRITER
MUTARE – Zanu PF Manicaland Youths say claims of violence against MDC Alliance leader – Nelson Chamisa – are part of dirty political tricks aimed at smearing the integrity of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and a bid to get national and international sympathy.
The MDC Alliance on Tuesday raised alarm that Chamisa had escaped an attempted assassination attempt in Mutare and alleged that Zanu PF youths blocked the road preventing him from entering the city centre on his way from Chipinge.
The opposition further alleged that gun shots were fired at Chamisa’s convoy.
“A bullet flew through one window of the vehicle carrying President Nelson Chamisa and out through the other. This attempted assassination and use of gunshots on President Chamisa’s vehicle and another that is part of his convoy are a cause for concern,” the MDC Alliance said.
In response, through a press conference held by the Zanu PF Manicaland Youth league late Wednesday afternoon, Mutare District Secretary for Youth Affairs, Dunmore Mambondiyani dismissed allegations of a Zanu PF sponsored attack on the MDC Alliance leadership.
“Clearly, the actions of the MDC-A reflect an irresponsible brand of politics, which does not care about the welfare of the citizens. All these actions are aimed at garnering the attention of the rapporteur and to ensure sanctions are held firm,” said Mambondiyani who was flanked by Zanu PF Dangamvura/Chikanga aspiring candidate Clide Jani.
The United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on Unilateral Coercive Rights – Alena Douhan – is in Zimbabwe on a 10 day visit to ascertain the effects of sanctions imposed on individuals and specific corporates in the country.
“In summary, one can thus see that this new claim of attacks and gun shots by the MDC-A is merely a continuation of a failed strategy aimed at smearing the integrity of the government and people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
“The MDC-A should learn to put the interest of Zimbabwe first and foremost and not the interests of an embassy seeking the pillage and continue with unbridled hegemony over our resources,” Mambondiyani said.
The Zanu PF youths said the New Dispensation led by Mnangagwa has distinguished itself by instituting a wide range of reformist policies.
“These have not been taken well by some western governments who still have regime change agenda in place. Sanctions from the First Republic have carried over into the Second Republic and the unmitigated attacks have continued unabated,” Mambondiyani said.
Zanu PF said in September 2019, Samantha Kureya commonly known as ‘Gonyeti’ faked an abduction under the auspices of a named embassy.
The ruling party youths added that prior to the United Nations General Assembly in October 2019, Dr Magombeyi is alleged to have been abducted by the government and a demonstration was reportedly organized by the same embassy to force the government to release him.
Dr. Peter Magombeyi, was leader of the Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association during the time he was seized by suspected state security agents.
The party also claimed that MDC-A members, Joanna Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova on May 13, 2020 also faked abduction after staging a demonstration in Harare’s Warren Park suburb.
The youths claimed that the abductions are nothing new in Zimbabwe as “the opposition has failed to defeat Zanu PF in national elections”.
