The MDC Alliance says its leader, Advocate Nelson Chamisa, has faced two assassination attempts in a space of a week, with the latest incident happening Tuesday as he was about to enter Mutare after gunshots were reportedly fired at his convoy.
According to MDC Alliance National Spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, Chamisa’s first assassination attempt took place last Monday when he was in Masvingo where his vehicle was stoned by suspected Zanu PF thugs.
The MDC Alliance leader is currently embarking on a community citizens conversation tour where he is interacting with community leaders, women’s groups, vendors, business leaders and citizens in line with the opposition party’s 2021 Agenda.
“Tuesday at approximately 5 PM, bullets were fired at the convoy of President Nelson Chamisa as he was about to enter Mutare. One of the bullets flew through the vehicle carrying President Chamisa. Loud gunshots were heard by those at the scene. About 12 unmarked Hilux vehicles trailed the convoy of President Chamisa as the road was blockaded with rocks,” said Mahere in a statement.
Mahere noted that vehicles that were part of Chamisa’s convoy were also stoned.
“Armed Zanu PF thugs gathered around President Chamisa’s convoy. The thugs were armed with knobkerries, axes, guns and knives. The shooting incident was preceded by an unprecedented number of roadblocks, which were manned by police officers who were taking instructions from the Zanu PF thugs. A gentleman by the name Mambondiani of Zanu PF coordinated the attacks,” alleged the MDC Alliance’s national spokesperson.
“Tuesday’s incident follows another assassination attempt on the life of the president last Monday when he was in Masvingo. Again his vehicle was heavily stoned by Zanu PF thugs in an orgy of violence that resulted in five members of his team being badly injured and hospitalised.”
The national spokesperson said Chamisa was leading a charge to mobilise citizens ahead of the 2020 elections, as efforts to attract six million votes.
“President Chamisa is embarking on a community citizens conversation interface in various provinces in line with our Agenda 2021. This week he is touring Manicaland. So far, he has visited community leaders, women’s groups, vendors, business leaders and citizens in Chipinge East, Chpinge Central, Chipinge South, Birchenough Bridge and Nyanyadzi,”Mahere said.
“Rural communities have shown vast support for the transformation agenda and are unanimous in their call for a Chamisa-led government.”
Mahere claimed these tactics revealed “beyond doubt that Zanu PF is terrified of the unstoppable groundswell of citizen support for President Chamisa and the broad alliance forming in every village and every town to win Zimbabwe for change.”
She indicated that despite the harassment and intimidation, the MDC Alliance would continue with the citizens tour where the party president will engage citizens, civic leaders and special interest groups.
“This to strengthen the broad alliance to win Zimbabwe for change. What is central for us is to champion the cause of the Zimbabwean people who face grave economic difficulties, depleted wages, a rising cost of living, a broken education system, dilapidated infrastructure, extreme poverty and a public health system that is on its knees,” Mahere summed.
