Local church groups under the Zimbabwe Divine Destiny (ZDD) have challenged President Emmerson Mnangagwa to act against his lieutenants, Terence Mukupe and Josiah Hungwe over their controversial remarks that the military would not allow MDC Alliance Presidential candidate, Nelson Chamisa to rule if he wins this year’s elections.
Addressing journalists in the capital yesterday, ZDD Executive Director, Bishop Ancelimo Magaya accused Hungwe and Mukupe of believing that Zimbabweans are still docile enough to be intimidated and silenced by mere reference to violence.
“As a nation we have high expectations of an election that is peaceful and possibly fair,but our hearts bleeds when we hear shocking utterances by supposedly mature and educated national leaders in the persons of a Deputy Minister of Finance Terrence Mukupe and Provincial Governor Josiah Hungwe.
“These two individuals seem to believe that Zimbabweans are still docile enough to be intimidated and silenced by reference to violence and use of of the bullet on citizens who disagree with a particular political view point,” said Magaya.
He challenged Mnangagwa to act beyond rebukes.
“At list in the spirit of the so called new dispensation,it is shameful to hear such disregard for justice from people of their stature and therefore can not go without condemnation.
“We want it to be known today that we condemn in the strongest of these reckless utterances by the two senior ZANU PF party members who threatened and intimidated the electorate with the use of army as in the past.
“Governor Hungwe goes further to shamefully tell the nation Mnangagwa will not hesitate to shoot anyone attempting to rise to power regardless of the election outcome.
“We want to challenge president Mnangagwa to urgently act in a practical way beyond just rebukes and mere refutals,” added Magaya.
He added that as the church will they continue to mobilize citizens to use their vote to block candidates and parties that condone violence.
“As the nation watches in shock, we wish to send a very strong message to all political parties that the church will not just condemn such evils but will take a very biblical and principled stance in that we will continue to mobilise citizens to use their vote to block candidates and parties that condone violence,”said Magaya.
