MDC legislators receiving death threats

The Movement for Democratic Change today said its legislators were being sent death threats and called for an investigation into the matter.

In a statement following its demonstration in the capital Harare, the MDC said the threats which were being sent as text messages read: “Zita rangu ndonzi ‘Death’ Mafreedoms nemarights amunoda kukoshesa aya be careful kuti security in numbers haiwanzobatsiri kana wawega. We are gunning for you!”

The MDC said, loosely translated, the message said: “My name is death. Be careful about these freedoms and rights you want to advocate for. Don’t be secure in numbers, because we hunt you down when you are by yourself. We are gunning for you.”

The MDC has 112 legislators in both the National Assembly and the Senate.

There are 270 seats in the National Assembly and 80 in the Senate, making a total of 350.

The MDC today organised a peaceful demonstration in the capital and thanked its supporters for braving the rain to express their dissatisfaction at the “failing” economy.

“Today’s demonstration was a success, a clear message that the people of Zimbabwe will not just watch while their dreams being washed down the drain,” the party said.

“We demonstrated our will to reclaim Zimbabwe. We make mention of everyone who braved the weather, placing priority and expressing desire to ensure that the future of the next generations is secure.

“More importantly is the show of our peaceful nature that we repeated yet again against a background of prophets of doom and darkness, who predicted and plotted violence.

“The MDC is committed to continue leading the campaign for the return to legitimacy,” it said.

The party handed over a petition calling for the establishment of a national transitional authority to bring the country back to legitimacy to the Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda.

The petition was also addressed to the chairperson of the Southern African Development Community Hage Geingob of Namibia, the chairperson of the African Union Paul Kagame and ZANU-PF leader Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The MDC insists that its leader Nelson Chamisa won the 30 July elections but has failed to produce any proof both in and out of court but says Chamisa won more than 2.6 million votes against Mnangagwa’s two million.

Mnangagwa’s spokesman George Charamba said the President was ready for talks but Chamisa had to recognise him as the President first before any talks.

This might be difficult to swallow for Chamisa as he has insisted for four months that he won the elections.

Any backing down could spell doom for him as he is also fighting for the leadership of the party at the coming congress which was expected to be held in February but has been pushed to October.

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