Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) led by Dr Thokozani Khupe has blasted their rival faction led by Nelson Chamisa over the behavior of their supporters who hurled obscenities and derogatory words against their former Deputy President outside the Supreme Court yesterday.
Addressing a media briefing in Harare today, MDC-T spokesperson Linda Masarira said the violence was against the founding values and principles of the labour backed movement.
“It is a very sad reality that our erstwhile colleagues long traded our party’s founding value of non-violence as a tool of persuading follower-ship, and have joined the formerly (Robert) Mugabe led Zanu-PF in using violence as a coercion tool. The level of violence, sexism, election rigging and poverty of ideas in running institutions is at a crescendo in both Zanu-PF and the Chamisa Group such that one is left with no doubt that the two parties have clearly become birds of a feather,” said Masarira.
Rowdy youths from the Chamisa led MDC-T yesterday hurled obscenities and derogatory words against Khupe when she was leaving the Supreme Court.
Masarira said the attack on the former Morgan Tsvangirai’s deputy was unlawful and criminal.
“The attack on President Thokozani Khupe and our party members yesterday is criminal and unlawful. The acts of violence that happened in front of the most criminal court in the country tells a story of the attitude the law institutions,” further stated Masarira.
She also dismissed claims perpetuated by Chamisa supporters that Khupe is a Zanu PF stooge bend on destabilising the opposition ahead of the 2018 watershed elections.
“Surprisingly, in their trademark empty noise, as usual, our erstwhile, our colleagues are making naked claims that we are an appendage of Zanu-PF. Fortunately, the voter has come to know which political group in Zimbabwe will easily win a Grammy for telling outright lies. Their deeds prove who is actually in bed with the ruling party,” said Masarira.
She added Zimbabwe is a constitutional democracy where people’s freedoms are respected and as such, vowed to continue holding their party activities in preparation for the 2018 elections.
The two MDC-T group are at loggerheads over the use of the name, symbols and trademark of the party. The matter was referred back to the High Court which is expected to determine if there are two MDC-T parties.
