This is an opinion of Savanna News a leading news publication in Southern Africa
‘The judiciary is working with the Thokozani Khupe faction to dislodge Nelson Chamisa from MDC leadership’
Komichi’s speech
t turned out Komichi went to speech writing and press handling lessons just before the judgement. It was revealed by Big Brands, the company he hired but failed to pay for the services.
Read More: Komichi fails to pay for speech writing services
Where did Morgen Komichi get the speech that he read out soon after the judgement was made. This is the link to the speech. The speech is long enough to have taken time to write. It indicates that Komichi knew about the outcome of the ruling. The speech must have been prepared way before the handing of the judgement.
MDC Alliance MP Joanah Mamombe queried:
It’s clear they knew exactly what was contained in that judgement! Where did Mr Morgen Komichi get the speech he was reading out to the Journalists?? This is ridiculous, A predetermined.
Khupe’s admittance
Exactly two hours before the judgement, MDC-T leader Thokozani Khupe broke the news. She informed Zimbabwe that the judgement was going to be handed today. She called people to respect the judgement which indicates that she knew it was in her favour. An adverse judgement was going to end her political career. She even called members to unite and build ‘our’ party. Which party was Khupe referring to if she didn’t know the judgement?
Khupe posted:
I’ve just received a call from my lawyer @ProfMadhuku informing me that the SC, judgement will be handed down today @ 3pm. I call upon our members & supporters to remain calm & accept whatever the outcome of judgement is. In unity let’s renew & build our great Party and Country!
Timing of the judgement
The judgement was made at a time Zimbabwe is in a lockdown situation. Matters which are not urgent are to be postponed as per Judicial Service Commission directive. The MDC leadership case was not urgent but was not postponed. The court decided to dice with people’s lives and went ahead with the ruling.
Police sealing of Harvest house before the judgement
The Zimbabwe Republic Police anti riot officers sealed off the MDC Alliance headquarters well before the judgement. Police usually take precautions before judgements, but questions have been raised on why the police then decided to gather in the wake of coronavirus. Are the police immune to Covid-19? If the police anticipated violence, why didn’t they recommend the judgement be done some other day after coronavirus is under control than risk the lives of officers and rioters?
Press conferences
Why did the police allow Morgen Komichi and Douglas Mwonzora to violate social distancing rules and conduct press conferences? The pair conducted their press conferences in town, an area that has been condoned off due to the coronavirus outbreak. MDC Alliance Vice President Tendai Biti was forces to conduct his presser from a bushy area after he was denied by the police to conduct it in town.