BY BRENNA MATENDERE
MAKESURE Choga, a Kwekwe based human rights defender and leader of Mbizo Community Theatre says he has gone into hiding after suspected state security agents launched a manhunt for him in connection with a book that critiques President Emmerson Mnangagwa which is set to be published soon.
The book is titled ‘The Coup President’s Rule: A True Story of Zimbabwe’, and narrates how Mnangagwa has mismanaged governance in the country after romping to power through a military-assisted coup in November 2017, which ousted long time the late ruler Robert Mugabe.
The book contains several chapters critical of Mnangagwa and his regime, including: ‘The Fake Promise to Change Zimbabwe’s Situation Within 100 Days’; ‘The Coup President’s Disastrous First Cabinet and the Departure of ZANU-PF Think Tanks’; ‘The 2018 General Elections’; ‘The Recalls of MDC-A Legislators and Judicial Political Capture’; and ‘Repeated Constitutional Amendments to Ring-Fence the Coup President’s Power’.
Other topics include ‘The Increase of human rights abuse in the Country’; ‘The shambolic 2023 August general elections’; and ‘The recalls of CCC legislators in parliament by Tshabangu backed by Zanu PF’.
In an interview from his hiding base, Choga who contested the 2018 parliamentary elections for Mbizo constituency as an independent candidate, said he thinks his yet to be published book has drawn the ire of Zanu PF structures in Midlands who have now set state security agents on him.
“I am told the book which I had sent to one publisher for review was leaked to the state and they now want my head because of its topics that put President Mnangagwa in bad light,” he said.
“Some known state security agents searched for me two weeks ago, but I was not at home then. They left a message for me to report to Central police station. I went there, and when they started to question me, I called my lawyer and no charge or docket was created.
“Then yesterday in the evening, four men and one woman visited my home with an unregistered white vehicle, looking for me again. My life is now at risk, and I have fled into hiding.”
On 27 March 2018, Choga drew the attention of the international community when he was attacked with stones, sticks and knives in Kwekwe, reportedly by members of a youth group called “Alshabab” suspected to have links to the ruling party Zanu PF.
As part of his work, he uses drama and theatre to encourage young people to sign up to vote in general elections and shares his activities on social media.
In the past, he has organised community theatre in a number of villages, towns and cities to conscientize citizens on key electoral developments ahead of general elections.
In the build-up to the 2023 elections, Choga introduced protest music in artwork while in Lusaka, Zambia.
He managed to release an album called Hutsinye (Hatred), which had tracks such as Hutsinye, Sarudzo (elections), My Right and a bonus track called Puza dollar.
