MDC supporters have called on party leader Nelson Chamisa to remove party Deputy Luke Tamborinyoka from the position after he threw under the bus arrested Deputy National Chairman Job Sikhala in an incriminating statement yesterday.

Tamborinyoka issued a press statement divorcing the party from an utterance made by Sikhala to the effect that the opposition party will make sure that President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be removed from power before 2023.

His media statement has attracted a lot of anger from MDC supporters who have since called on Chamisa to deal with his spokesperson.

“I was temporary translator at Congress when the resolution to strive to remove ZANU PF from power prior to 2023 was taken,” said Youth National Executive member Discent Bajila.

“I therefore have a moral obligation to stand with Job Wiwa Sikhala on this particular matter. It’s not his personal opinion. It’s the collective opinion of congress,” he added.

Tamborinyoka’s full statement read as follows:

MDC believes in non-violence, legality and constitutionalism

The MDC notes with deep worry and concern that Hon. Job Sikhala’s statements made during a rally in Bikita East over the weekend have caused uproar and the party wishes to clarify its position regarding the same.

It is the party’s view that Hon. Sikhala’s views as expressed at the rally and widely quoted in the press were his own personal opinions, which we believe have been misconstrued and misinterpreted.

For the record, the MDC believes in Constitutional, peaceful, democratic, non-violent and legal means of resolving the national crisis. We have never been perpetrators of illegality and non-violence. If anything, we have always been the victims.

The MDC is deeply worried about the escalating national crisis and to this end; the party will on Thursday this week launch the Roadmap to Economic Recovery, Legitimacy, Openness and Democracy (RELOAD) which is our blueprint to legitimacy and economic recovery in the country.
RELOAD does not in any way entail illegal and unconstitutional means of solving the national crisis.

Once again, the MDC wishes to state unequivocally that it has always submitted itself to the cardinal values of legality, constitutionalism and democracy. Any attempt to portray the MDC in any other way is disingenuous and unfortunate.

MDC: (1999 – 2019) Celebrating 20 Years of Tenacity and Courage

Luke Tamborinyoka
Deputy National Spokesperson
Movement for Democratic Change