MDC says Chamisa convoy attacked, driver abducted

The Movement for Democratic Change says there was an attack on its leader Nelson Chamisa’s convoy near the Mabvuku turn-off yesterday when he was travelling to Harare after addressing a rally at Marondera but he was safe.

It says one of his drivers was abducted but escaped by jumping off the moving abduction vehicles.

Chamisa was allegedly being followed by six vehicles four of whose registration number the party disclosed.

It said these vehicles had been following Chamisa for some time and were reported to Avondale and Harare Police Stations but nothing was done.

Chamisa has been holding “thank you” rallies across the country and is reported to be planning a mass demonstration.

The government has warned the party and the nation against any demonstration aimed at overthrowing the government but the MDC argues that its demonstration will just be an expression of the people’s democratic rights.

Chamisa, who was beaten by Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front leader Emmerson Mnangagwa in the 30 July elections has rejected the results despite also losing the case at the Constitutional Court.

He claims to have won the elections and was inaugurated the people’s president at the party’s 19^th anniversary celebrations on 24 October.

Chamisa says the current economic crisis in the country is a result of Mnangagwa’s illegitimacy.

But the MDC leader also seems to be facing pressure at home and has postponed the party’s planned congress to elect a new leader from February to October.

Analysts have said this is a sign that Chamisa is afraid of losing the party leadership and wants to reorganise the party to ensure his victory.

Chamisa also showed that he was worried he might lose the leadership of the party when he told those at the party’s 19^th anniversary celebrations that those vying for leadership must allow him to fulfill the mandate he was given by founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai after which he would pass on the mantle.

Some critics say Chamisa “grabbed” the leadership of the party within hours of Tsvangirai’s death and was not handed over the leadership by Tsvangirai as he claims.

Tsvangirai’s mother told mourners who came to escort Tsvangirai’s body from the airport that she did not want to see Chamisa or Tsvangirai’s wife Elizabeth threatening to hang herself if they were allowed at her son’s funeral.

It is not clear how this was resolved as both attended the funeral with Chamisa as the lead speaker on each occasion.

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