HUMAN rights lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu has sprung to the defence of charismatic opposition politician Nelson Chamisa who is being characterised as a weak leader by failing to speak out against a government crackdown on his sympathisers.
Chamisa has also come under attack for failing to tackle head-on President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy at the just-ended Sadc summit hosted by Zimbabwe.
Academic Ibbo Mandaza and journalist-cum-activist Hopewell Chin’ono have of late been vocal about the perceived weaknesses of Chamisa to an extent of alleging he was compromised by the state.
But Mpofu, who led Chamisa’s legal team in his 2018 presidential election petition to challenge results that showed President Emmerson Mnangagwa had won the polls, has leapt to the 45-year old charismatic politician.
In a series of posts on his social media handle X, Mpofu sought to exonerate Chamisa by challenging his adversaries.
“The claim that Nelson Chamisa was bribed by Zanu PF to compromise the opposition’s efforts is a baseless and orchestrated smear campaign, concocted in the corridors of Jongwe House, and is aimed at consolidating Zanu’s hold on power,” wrote Mpofu.
“This allegation doesn’t even originate from third-wayists (who as we now know are spineless and tactless critics), as it serves no purpose other than to bolster Zanu’s interests. Those who peddle this falsehood must either produce concrete evidence or be exposed as Zanu apologists, deserving of scrutiny and criticism. We can’t go on like this. If anyone has any evidence on Chamisa let them produce it or forever hold their peace.”
He also cast aspersions on arguments that elections are useless in Zimbabwe since they are “always rigged” by Zanu PF PF with Chamisa having no clue on how to deal with that.
“If your argument is that elections are incapable of effecting change, then it’s illogical to suggest that Chamisa should identify the next popular leader. Instead, the focus should be on finding a leader who can effectively dismantle the deep state,” Mpofu wrote.
“In that case, Chamisa’s involvement is irrelevant and there is no Chimuti (baton) for him to pass. Conversely, if you believe that a popular leader is necessary to drive change, then Chamisa is the obvious choice. Ultimately, the choice is yours: either acknowledge Chamisa’s potential or abandon the notion that popularity is a prerequisite for leadership. Given however, that your discourse is steeped in dishonesty, you won’t see all this.”
Largely on his own, Chamisa has been holding fort in the face of adversity and promising his supporters better days.
“It has not been easy to stand for right, truth and the authentic alternative. I can understand the struggle fatigue. It has been a long, rough and tough journey, #traveled fighting brutality and oppression. Struggles are never easy. It is a struggle — and it is not instant coffee or a walk in the park!” Chamisa wrote on his X handle.
“Some are perennial skeptics and perpetual cynics and armchair critics. The naysayers and doomsayers. These are a mortal danger to a people’s struggle for a better world. Some fight to the bitter end!”
“These few are in it for the long haul, for service and for Zimbabwe and its people AND I am proud to belong to this category. The Struggles the world over and since time immemorial, are always laced with multiple sorrows and discomforts but ultimately victory kicks in. All this suffering is not in vain. We can’t go through all this pain not to receive our gain and victory in due time!!”
In January this year, Chamisa quit the Citizens’ Coalition for Change, a political party he founded in 2022 after he had lost control of the MDC-T to Douglas Mwonzora following a legal showdown.
“I will have nothing to do with sewer politics,” he said in a 13-page statement.
The opposition politician won about 44% of the votes in last year’s presidential election which was plagued by allegations of foul play.
However, several MPs from his CCC party later lost their seats in controversial recalls by self-imposed party secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.
Zanu PF had failed to garner a parliamentary two-thirds majority in the general elections.
However, the by-elections necessitated by Tshabangu’s recalls handed Zanu PF the desperately needed two-thirds majority on a silver platter.
Chamisa described the recalls as sabotage. He then quit the CCC party, saying it had been captured by Zanu PF and the state.
In his resignation letter, he said the CCC had been “defiled”, accusing the ruling Zanu-PF of being behind the machinations — allegations it denied.
The 45-year-old lawyer and Christian pastor is now expected to set up a new party. He said that “giving up or giving in is not an option”.
While he does enjoy significant support, especially in urban areas, his critics say Chamisa’s weak leadership led to deep rifts in the opposition, and that has only helped Mnangagwa cement his grip on power.
Chamisa has been in opposition politics for more than two decades. During this time, he says he has faced threats to his life, including escaping an alleged assassination attempt in 2022 when his convoy came under attack during by-election campaigns.
He also suffered a cracked skull after he was savagely attacked at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport during a clampdown on the opposition in 2007.
