Zimbabwe’s opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa has said he regrets calling his supporters ‘stupid’ for protesting shortly after the July general elections.
Chamisa who leads the MDC Alliance told reporters on Thursday that he did not back the violence that erupted on August 1.
He said “You are talking about an election that has not been declared. And why would I even react because I do not know the results that will be announced?”
“It was very stupid, even, for people who demonstrated… it was stupid, because they then opened themselves for attacks and manipulation,” he told journalists. “I think whoever demonstrated – it was their right, but I feel it was not called for,” Chamisa said.
There is pressure mounting on him to appear before a commission of enquiry into the violence that led to some deaths.
Six people were killed when opposition protesters clashed with soldiers shortly after the general elections.
The soldiers reportedly shot into the protesters resulting in deaths that were condemned globally. They were agitating over the election results claiming that their candidate, Nelson Chamisa had won instead.
But his comments about those who protested infuriated many who took to social media to condemn him. He shortly after that apologized with a message on his twitter account.
My remarks to condemn those who killed or injured the innocent,burnt cars & destroyed property on 1 August used ‘words’ that regrettably created the wrong impression. The people have a constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully. Any discomfort caused is sincerely regretted.
— Nelson Chamisa (@nelsonchamisa) November 15, 2018
Chamisa said he will only appear before the commission if President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his two vice presidents agree to do so too.
Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa set up a commission of inquiry to look into the country’s post-election killings.
The seven-member commission of inquiry was headed by former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe.
The commission was given three months to look into the reasons behind the protests and the role of the military in the killings.
Source: Africafeeds.com
