IN THE PRESS

THE President of the Second Republic had to gently remind the rowdy elements amongst us that democracy is meant to be enjoyed, not to be abused.

In the Second Republic, citizens have been doing and saying whatever they want in the name of democracy. A few extremists have gone on to tatter the ethos of democracy; with the sitting democratically elected Government being the target of their wanton attacks.

Leadership is not about whipping up emotions for the sake of it and then throwing your own under the bus and calling them “machupeti”.

It is not about driving people into the streets to “defend their vote” and then calling them fools when the heat is turned up and accountability season arrives.

Unfortunately, this is a lesson that MDC leader Nelson Chamisa’s followers are having to learn a little too late following the August 1 post-election violence.

They have been labelled “stupid” by their own un-clever leader.

Six lives were lost that fateful day and according to Nelson, it is all because of his supporters’ “stupidity”.

Said Nelson this past week and much to the chagrin of the “machupeti”, “It was very stupid even for people who demonstrated, to demonstrate for the results to be released . . . it was uncalled for … I am not insulting them but I have a right just like any other because it was premature . . .”

This attack on the intelligence of his supporters comes after Nelson spent the better part of the campaign period urging his supporters to reject election results not in their favour and to “defend their vote”.

This is the same Nelson who is at this very moment going around the country in an effort to encourage his “machupeti” to take to the streets once more to confront a popularly-elected Government.

Nelson is the boy who loves to play nejecha. Remember that before being fooled by this lad to go into the streets.