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The crucial question facing MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa as he prepares for the 2023 elections is what to call his party. He certainly won’t be able to call it MDC A or T.

The MDC brand, Zanu PF courts have ruled, belongs to the MDC T leader Douglas Mwonzora. But that is apparently not enough for him. He know suggests that his candidates will contest future elections under the MDC Alliance name (see: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/03/mwonzora-plots-chamisa-killer-punch/).

Does that mean that Chamisa can go back to the old days of being himself MDC T. Doubtful. Perhaps he should call his party the Former MDC. Or will Mwonzora claim that as well?

Mwonzora – in his role as  MDC emperor of all he sees – graciously accepted the government’s offer of a carriage to its Victoria Falls vaccination ball where he promised to co-operate in solving the country’s problems, if indeed there are any. SADC certainly doesn’t seem to think so.

Mwonzora said it was no longer the time for opposing for the sake of opposition. ‘We have changed the way to do things,’ he said. ‘We now want politics of tolerance and to work together, putting the people of Zimbabwe first. We don’t want politics of hunger, hate and intolerance.’ (See: https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/03/well-work-with-zanu-pf-mwonzora/.)

Newsday says Mwonzora’s comments are seen as supporting suggestions that his party has been working with Zanu PF to decimate the Chamisa faction. He recently instructed his MPs to stop heckling or walking out on Mnangagwa and has had about 40 MDC Alliance people booted out of parliament.

MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the depleted party would continue to hold Zanu PF to account, champion the cause of the people and be the voice of the suffering masses. ‘We will take all necessary steps to stop the attempt by Zanu PF and its surrogates who usurped the will of the people to create a one-party State. The regime must respect the democratic and constitutional rights of the citizens to challenge its policies and offer alternatives for the betterment of the nation,’ she said.

Chased out of his Harvest House headquarters and parliament, with the very name of his party stolen, Chamisa must wonder how he can present his party to the electorate in two years’ time. Perhaps he should just call it the Chamisa party. They couldn’t possibly claim ownership of that , , , Or could they?

Other Points:

• Islamist militants seized control of the Northern Mozambiquan coastal town of Palma. Dozens of expatriates were killed or are missing after they were ambushed outside the hotel compound near a multi-billion US dollar liquified gas project. Mercenaries and helicopters rescued some people. Mozambique has been struggling to put down the four year old insurgency. SADC has done nothing to help (see: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/islamist-rebels-kill-dozens-in-attack-on-mozambique-gas-project-s3fhl308z).
• The Vigil’s old adversary government spokesman Nick Mangwana is now in the news on his own account. He turned up with a gun on a farm he says he has been allocated near Chegutu. Some 75 families have been ordered to leave. Mangwana used to be the Zanu PF cheerleader in the UK (see: https://www.zimlive.com/2021/03/23/mangwana-brandished-gun-and-told-farmer-to-leave-peacefully-in-farm-row/).

• Because of the coronavirus we can no longer physically meet outside the Zimbabwe Embassy in London, so we have a virtual Vigil while the restrictions continue. We ask our activists to put on Vigil / ROHR / Zimbabwe regalia and take a photo of themselves holding an appropriate poster reflecting our protest against human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. The photos are uploaded on our Flickr site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/albums/72157718804253442. Our virtual Vigil activists today were Esther Munyira and Margaret Munenge who both kindly contributed to Vigil funds.

• For Vigil pictures check: http://www.flickr.com/photos/zimbabwevigil/. Please note: Vigil photos can only be downloaded from our Flickr website.

Notices:

• The Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe (ROHR) is the Vigil’s partner organization based in Zimbabwe. ROHR grew out of the need for the Vigil to have an organization on the ground in Zimbabwe which reflected the Vigil’s mission statement in a practical way. ROHR in the UK actively fundraises through membership subscriptions, events, sales etc to support the activities of ROHR in Zimbabwe. Please note that the official website of ROHR Zimbabwe is http://www.rohrzimbabwe.org/. Any other website claiming to be the official website of ROHR in no way represents us.
• The Vigil’s book ‘Zimbabwe Emergency’ is based on our weekly diaries. It records how events in Zimbabwe have unfolded as seen by the diaspora in the UK. It chronicles the economic disintegration, violence, growing oppression and political manoeuvring – and the tragic human cost involved. It is available at the Vigil. All proceeds go to the Vigil and our sister organisation the Restoration of Human Rights in Zimbabwe's work in Zimbabwe. The book is also available from Amazon.
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