Own Correspondent|The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Nick Mangwana has come out screaming accusing opposition MDC leader Nelson Chamisa of spreading hate speech against President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

In a statement on Saturday, Mangwana claimed that Chamisa was serially preaching hate speech by allegedly calling President Mnangagwa “a hyena.”

“Government has noted with concern statements published in a local daily newspaper where opposition leader Mr Nelson Chamisa labelled the Head of State and Government, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as a ‘hyena’. The language used by the opposition leader qualifies to be called ‘hate speech’ and has no place in civilised politics,” said Mr Mangwana.

Totally ignoring the realities of the number of times Mnangagwa has threatened and actually executed violence and brutality on innocent citizens and members of the opposition MDC, Mangwana said since assuming power in 2017, Mnangagwa “has made it part of his politics to preach and practise political tolerance” and accommodated even those who disagree with him.

“We find the calling of the President inflammatory names only inciteful and a deviation from acceptable political commentary or even political banter.”

Mangwana said: “Free speech is meant to benefit society and we struggle to see how an effort to diminish the dignity of a seating President can be of benefit to society.”

Mangwana further implied that the constitutional right to freedom of speech and association was being granted to Zimbabweans at the benevolence of President Mnangagwa.

“The President’s detractors are oblivious of the fact that the freedom of expression they are abusing is a product of the President’s policy of opening up of the political space. In the spirit of democracy, the New Dispensation headed by the President has ensured that people are free to express themselves without persecution.”

Several Zimbabweans have however been arrested, beaten or even killed by the Mnangagwa regime for going out to exercise the same right which Mangwana claims Mnangagwa has been giving to Zimbabweans at his benevolence.

Mangwana said unwarranted and contrived attacks on Mnangagwa whose human rights abusive track record has reduced the country to a laughing stock internationally had the potential to affect the country’s brand, soil its image and collaterally impact ordinary Zimbabweans.

He added that Mr Chamisa who actually has been battling to bring Mnangagwa to dialogue should, “embrace the progressive politics of ideas that promote national cohesion and growth”.

“As the country grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, let us all spread love by promoting hygienic practices that will save lives of our families and communities. This is not the time for cheap politicking and diversionary political manoeuvres, but a time to save lives,” Mangwana concluded with a message he should direct to government which recently abducted and brutalised there young female MDC activists including the country’s youngest parliamentarian Honourable Joanna Mamombe.