‘Mnangagwa no longer in control, allies deserting him’ – Adv Thabani Mpofu

Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa’s ally and top constitutional lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu believes that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is currently at his weakest form as a Zanu-PF candidate ahead of 2023 elections.

Mpofu urged the public to leave the legalities of the delimitation process to lawyers and civil society organisations and focus on registering to vote.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Monday gazetted the constituency Delimitation Report by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), setting the stage for crunch harmonised general elections expected later this year

Posting on his Twitter handle, Mpofu said Mnangagwa was afraid of the plebiscite adding that the Zanu-PF leader was no longer in control.

“Stop focusing on legalities of the delimitation process and leave that to lawyers and CSOs. What is indubitably clear is that ED is not in control, is afraid of elections and knows that elections can and will deliver change. He is at his weakest and allies have deserted him. Kwekwe (wants) him out,” he wrote.

“I like the anger. It speaks to their desperation and confusion. The masses should register to vote, vote and defend the vote. ED is not satisfied that ZEC has rigged enough in his favour and as you can see, he is running. Run him out of town, good people.”

Delimitation is carried out once every ten years following a census.

It is the process of dividing the country into constituencies and wards for purposes of elections to constituency seats in the National Assembly and of councillors to local authorities. The process is carried out in terms of sections 160 and 161 of the new Constitution.

Mpofu represented Chamisa at the Constitutional Court in 2018 when the opposition leader challenged election results.