MDC Alliance, vice chairperson Hon Job Sikhala has accused President Emmerson Mnangagwa of suppressing the MDC Alliance party by refusing to let them hold rallies and do public gatherings whilst ZANU Pf is given the green light to do so in this time where the country is grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to address a rally in Chivi District on Saturday, despite the fact that COVID-19 cases are rising in the country.
Recently the Zanu PF first Secretary imposed national lockdown which is expected to ease the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic across the country, Mnangagwa also banned public gatherings which he said are Covid-19 super spreaders and this resulted in bars being closed, restaurants only allowed to save take away, churches closed whilst funerals were limited to only 30 people
On his twitter handle Hon Sikhala accused the ruling Zanu PF party of using COVID-19 restrictions to suppress perceived political opponents whilst exposing citizens to the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.
“They ban us but see all provincial members, DCC executive members, CC members and all district chairpersons (3 per district) will be attending HE, President Mnangagwa’s rally kwa Chivi on Saturday 03.07.2. All buses will now leave from Chitsanga hall for Chivi on Saturday morning,” said Sikhala.
President Mnangagwa’s continuous defiance to Covid-19 regulations came a long way back in May when thousands of people gathered in defiance of COVID-19 safety protocols in central Harare for the unveiling of the statue of Mbuya Nehanda.
That was the third time in May that President Mnangagwa addressed a State function without adhering to World Health Organisation-prescribed safety protocols.
In that same month he addressed a huge gathering at Chief Njelele’s homestead in Gokwe South, in the Midlands province, where some of the attendees were not wearing masks.
The next day, he attended the memorial service of the late Agriculture minister Perence Shiri in Chikomba district, where he attracted a sizeable gathering.
Meanwhile, various MDC Alliance members were arrested this year for defying Covid-19 regulations and prohibited from holding party gatherings, while the President permitted gatherings for the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) party and its allies to go forward.
Up to now dozens of people including lawyers, journalists, nurses, doctors, opposition members of parliament, and human rights activists have been arrested and charged with violating COVID-19 lockdown rules, or for protesting on the streets and on social media.