THE MDC-T has accused Zanu PF and state security agents of using a Mazowe chief in what the party described as a propaganda war against its leader and Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai.
Chief Negomo of Chiweshe on Wednesday issued Tsvangirai with papers demanding he appears before his court for allegedly violating traditional customs by marrying in November, a taboo under Shona culture.
But the MDC-T claimed the summons – delivered with a whole media scrum in tow -- had no legal force.
“Perhaps the incompetent people behind this sting operation forgot to advise the chief that the judge does not serve summons himself but that summons are served by a messenger of court,” the party said in a statement Thursday.
“That the chief sought to act as his own messenger is clear manifestation of failure on his part to appreciate the difference between his role as a traditional leader from his role as a Zanu PF activist.”
“Chief Negomo must be aware of the murders and rapes and other barbaric acts committed by Zanu PF in 2008 in his jurisdiction. He is no doubt aware of acts of arson committed by Zanu PF activists against MDC-T people.
“Why has he not summoned any of them to his court if he is a man of justice? The only conclusion is that he approves of the murderous activities by the Zanu PF militia and junta.”
Tsvangirai is facing a media storm after ditching ex-lover Locadia Karimatsenga who is said to be pregnant with their twins having allegedly moved to initiate traditional marriage rites.
The MDC-T leader sent emissaries to Karimatsenga’s rural home in Mazowe to pay lobola and request marriage only to spectacularly cop-out, claiming Zanu PF and state security agents had muscled in on the debacle to embarrass and damage him politically.
The party said Chief Chiweshe’s supposed summons demonstrated Zanu PF’s desperation ahead of a key electoral face-off between Tsvangirai and President Robert Mugabe early next year.
“The MDC maintains that this whole debacle is a joint plot by desperate Zanu PF and junta elements in the face of Mugabe's impending defeat in the elections next year.
“However, no amount of propaganda can save Zanu PF from the jaws of defeat now that they have failed to gather enough courage to prevent Mugabe from standing again as a candidate.
“While the MDC has tremendous respect for the institution of traditional leaders in this country, it has no respect for those traditional leaders who offer themselves as willing and overzealous stooges of political parties especially Zanu PF.”