Opposition MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa has called on President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stop persecuting former President Robert Mugabe.

Addressing thousands of his party supporters at a campaign rally held in Marondera on Sunday, Chamisa said that the former President deserves to be respected as the founding President of an independent Zimbabwe.

“Mnangagwa must stop tormenting Mugabe,” said Chamisa. “He is the first President of the republic he must be treated with respect.”

“We need to respect whatever he did right while we quickly correct all the wrong he did,” said Chamisa.

Chamisa’s calls come among rumours that the former President is living in near house arrest under President Mnangagwa’s governemnt which took over power from Mugabe in a military coup in November last year.