Officially launching the MDC’s Road to Economic Recovery, Legitimacy, Openness And Democracy (RELOAD) at Harare Gardens today, advocate Nelson Chamisa said that party national vice-chairperson, Job Sikhala, had no case to answer.
Chamisa said that Sikhala was being charged for performing a duty every citizen world over is expected to undertake, that is, to remove illegitimate governments. Chamisa said:
Hakuna munhu anoita mhosva yekubvisa munhu asipo. (Noone commits a crime of overthrowing someone who is already not on the throne). The world over, illegitimate governments are fought!
His remarks come at a time when Sikhala was this morning remanded in custody to July 24 when he appeared before a Bikita Magistrates Court. Sikhala is being accused of subverting a constitutionally elected government after he remarked that his party was going to overthrow the government before 2023. He has said that he will approach the High Court for bail.
Chamisa said that examples abound to show that citizens can and have to remove illegitimate governments. He gave examples of citizens’ protests that took place in Sudan and Syria against respective governments to demonstrate his point.
He said that president Mnangagwa was illegitimate, therefore, it does not make sense to argue that Sikhala purports to remove Mnangagwa from the throne which he is not even occupying.
Advocate Chamisa also indicated that although the MDC seeks to remove the government, the party will pursue a democratic and peaceful path, as opposed to a violent one.
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