Chamisa claims God dissuades him from leading street protests in Zimbabwe

Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has stressed that divine guidance has dissuaded him from leading street protests, opting instead for transparency and peaceful means.

Addressing villagers at his uncle Chamunorwa Chamisa’s memorial service, Chamisa reaffirmed his presidential ambitions, citing leadership integrity and non-violence.

He underscored the importance of “clean hands” in governance. Chamisa claimed that God stopped him from leading public protests.

Chamisa said his presidential aspirations were deeply rooted in fulfilling the unfinished goals of Zimbabwe’s late opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai. He views himself as the successor to Tsvangirai’s legacy, driven to complete the tasks left unrealised.

“God wants this country to be built with clean hands, not individuals who have spilt blood, people who kill people, not people who murder citizens and people who steal,” he said.

“The late (opposition MDC founding father Morgan) Tsvangirai died without fulfilling his goals, but we are there to do that. You should not be scared of what is happening because it points to an end to our suffering.

“The time has come, and we are there to make sure that we realise the goal. We are ready. I am planning ahead of this reality.

“We are planning across the whole spectrum. We are praying hard. I was told not to spill blood. I had said I would go onto the streets with my supporters, and God told me to stop.

“He warned me against taking power using force. God advised me against leading street protests,” Chamisa said.

Zimbabwe’s government has a history of deploying security forces to quell protests, often with excessive force.

One of CCC leaders, Jameson Timba and a dozen other political activists, are currently detained without trial over allegations of planning demonstrations to disrupt the Southern African Development Community 44th Summit which was held in August this year.

In January 2019, nationwide demonstrations against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 150% fuel price hike turned violent, with security forces firing live ammunition, killing 17 and raping at least 17 women.