Former cabinet minister and Zanu-PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, has advised opposition MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa, to take back to the people challenges bedevilling his party.
The MDC Alliance has been undergoing a number of challenges threatening its existence since the Supreme Court ruling, early this year which technically replaced Chamisa’s presidency with that of a rival faction leader, Thokozani Khupe.
Khupe who dismally lost the presidential race in 2018, was allowed by the courts to take over the control of Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, formerly Harvest House, the headquarters of the united MDC.
Not only did Khupe, who the courts say is the legitimate president of the MDC-T after the death of founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai pending congress, take over the headquarters, she together with her camp have been recalling legislators and councillors who show allegiance to Chamisa.
Recalls have warranted the need for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to prepare for by-elections to fill-in vacancies that now exist in both Parliament and councils.
Asked during an interview with CITE on the online programme, the Breakfast Club Wednesday, on what advice he would give to the MDC Alliance, Kasukuwere who now resides in South Africa following the 2017 coup which deposed late former president Robert Mugabe, said Chamisa should return to the people.
He said taking political matters to courts has in the past not yielded positive outcomes.
“Politics is about the people,” said Kasukuwere.
“Nelson must take the game back to the people. He must go back to the people. Let the people make the decisions. It is about people voting. It is the verdict that will come from the people.”
He added: “Now if they go for these by-elections and a determination made by the people will make all those who are making those decisions think about it twice again. As it stands, the people’s will or the people’s decision is being undermined.”
Kasukuwere said it was clear that the majority of MDC supporters voted for Chamisa and not Khupe.
“Yes we do respect our courts,” said Kasukuwere.
“They are trying to do the best that they can but at times we ask ourselves: ‘Did the people vote for Khupe? And I think the answer is No! And for Khupe to walk in and say I am now the president of this party, MDC Alliance, I think at a personal level I wouldn’t take such a position.”
