This is not the first time that Chamisa has demonstrated a knack for self-preservation. Giving evidence before the Kgalema Motlanthe Commission of Inquiry into the 1 August 2018 violence, in which six people were killed two days after the harmonised elections, Chamisa said those that had demonstrated were stupid.
In his testimony where he distanced himself from the violence, he told the commission and cheering party supporters in the gallery: “I was sure that they would declare the proper results and I was ready to go to State House. So how does a person who is ready to go to State House find time to incite people and mobilise people to burn cars of a country that you want to run. Why would I do that?
“This is actually, you are talking about an election that has not been declared, and why would I even react because I don’t know the election that would be announced. It was very stupid even, for people who demonstrated to demonstrate for the results to be released. It was stupid because they then open themselves for attacks and for manipulation.
“I think whoever demonstrated, they have their right, but I feel that it was not called and that’s my view. I am not insulting them but I have a right just like any other because it was premature, it was unstrategic and open to be manipulated by the enemies of the people and the enemies of peace, the merchants of violence, the archbishops of violence.”
Chamisa is so good at playing the victim game and self-preservation and according whispers he is actually involved in secret talks with Mnangagwa’s administration.
“People will be shocked when a pact is signed,” was all one source would say.
The Insider reported seven months ago, way before the Supreme Court ruling that split the party, that Chamisa was keen to talk to Mnangagwa but was afraid of the backlash from his supporters especially after the way he had treated one of this then deputies Elias Mudzuri when he went to State House with a Parliamentary delegation to present themselves to Mnangagwa.
Things have changed drastically since the Supreme Court ruling as he is not only having to content with fighting Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi, but is facing an even greater threat from Tendai Biti and Job Sikhala who are painting a picture that Chamisa is all talk and no action, and have the support of the West.
While Chamisa’s supporters believe that Biti and Sikhala are not a threat to Chamisa, a former senior member of the party who has joined Mwonzora and Komichi says, Biti has been quietly mobilizing people and building his support base and should not be easily written off.
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