Former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has criticized the Harare City Commission inquiry, which was established by President Emmerson Mnangagwa and chaired by (Rtd) Justice Cheda, calling it a diversion from real local government concerns.
Chamisa testified before the commission on Monday after he was accused by CCC councillor Blessing Duma of instructing the City to speed up the regularization of settlements in Harare.
In a post on X, Chamisa explained his position, stating that he attended the inquiry out of respect and in his capacity as an officer of the Court and Justice. He outlined his reservations about the commission’s foundation and his reasons for appearing. He emphasized the following points:
- Testimony at the Inquiry: Chamisa clarified that he attended the inquiry at the request of the commission, despite his reservations about its legitimacy.
- No Role in Local Government: He asserted that he has no involvement in local government matters, as he is neither a councillor, mayor, nor part of the central government. Local government decisions are made by councils, not political parties or external figures.
- Audio Evidence Questioned: During the inquiry, an audio allegedly featuring the councillor was presented, but Chamisa questioned its authenticity due to its poor quality. He noted that the councillor mentioned both his name and that of President Mnangagwa, suggesting that if he was being summoned, the same should apply to Mnangagwa
- Principle of Accountability: Chamisa stressed that allegations must be supported by evidence and criticized the practice of summoning individuals based on unverified claims.
- Condemnation of Forced Evictions: He strongly condemned the destruction of people’s homes and livelihoods through forced evictions, calling it criminal and inhumane, reflecting systemic leadership failure and a violation of human rights.
- Pattern of Diversion: Chamisa noted that this inquiry is part of a pattern of using commissions to divert attention from more pressing issues. He compared it to the Motlanthe Commission set up after the disputed 2018 elections, where he was also summoned for an unrelated matter.
- Governance Crisis: Chamisa argued that the governance crisis in the country cannot be solved by targeting individuals through commissions, but requires real accountability and action to address systemic issues like corruption, maladministration, and bad governance.
- Call for Accountability: He concluded by calling for those responsible for the country’s crisis, including corruption and incompetence in local governance, to be held accountable.
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