MDC president, Nelson Chamisa, has come out in defence of party vice-chairperson Job Sikhala who is facing treason charges. According to a report, Sikhala becomes the 14th person to be charged with treason in 2019 alone.
Meanwhile, under former President Robert Mugabe’s 37-year reign, “only” 7 people were charged with treason. Some commentators have derided the “New Dispensation” as the treason dispensation.
Sikhala got into trouble with authorities after he allegedly warned that the current government will be overthrown before 2023 due to its failure to deal with the current national crises which evoke memories of 2008.
Chamisa has thrown his weight behind his colleague, whom he said their camaraderie goes long back. He said:
Hon Sikhala and I come a long way. He is a Cde, brother and I know his love for Zimbabwe. He means no harm. He expresses himself in very passionate ways.
He does so because he loves Zimbabwe. There are few men whom I know who are as passionate about Zimbabwe and freedom as he is.
We’ve always urged ZEC to ensure the credibility of constitutional means to choose leaders. Rigging the electoral process nullifies the most vital way to choose leadership.
The right to act is a fundamental right. We’re the alternative and are entitled to express that alternative.
We’ve seen the time without number the manipulation of the electoral process and a resultant crisis of legitimacy in this country.
Those in office undermined and subverted the constitutional process of a democratically elected government. That is the root cause of illegitimacy.