HARARE – MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora’s rejected Sunday visit to Chikurubi Maximum Prison where CCC’s Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole are jailed elicited fury from the lawmakers who cited security concerns over the former party ally’s insistence to meet them.
The politicians also expressed concerns on why prison officials went to great lengths to try and facilitate the unwelcome visit.
Mwonzora was left embarrassed Sunday when the two refused to meet him after the Nyanga senator had made the long drive to the Harare outskirts where the prison is situated.
The visit was an ostensible solidarity gesture by the former party ally after the said political prisoners have been languishing in remand prison since mid-June this year.
They are charged with inciting the violence that rocked Nyatsime area outside Chitungwiza in the aftermath of party activist Moreblessing Ali’s shock murder by alleged Zanu PF persons weeks earlier.
In a statement Sunday, Sikhala’s family spokesperson and lawyer Freddy Michael Masarirevu dismissed claims by Mwonzora he met the MPs.
Instead, Masarirevu said, Mwonzora was informed of the MPs’ position but insisted on “standing under a tree for five minutes before departing”.
“It is very sad and unfortunate that a person as senior and learned as Sen. Mwonzora would mislead the public into thinking that he met Hon. Sikhala in prison,” Masarirevu said.
“His public statement which he issued to members of the press whom he went with to Chikurubi Maximum prison claiming to have met both Hon. Sikhala and Hon. Sithole is therefore incorrect and should be dismissed with uttermost contempt.
“Hon. Sikhala and Hon. Sithole are very angry at some senior officials at Chikurubi for wanting to impose a visit on them.
“The security officials even made a suggestion that Sen. Mwonzora be allowed to come directly to their cells and guarantee privacy, a request that was turned down.
“As much as the gesture is appreciated, the Hon MPs wonder why Sen. Mwonzora invited members of the press to come with him if the visit was genuine.
“Secondly, why would he even insist on visiting them when they had made it clear that they were not comfortable with meeting him?
“The two are also questioning why officials allowed Sen. Mwonzora permission to visit them yet a similar request was denied for President Nelson Chamisa.
“The two are worried and concerned about their welfare and security.”
Mwonzora remains a bitter party nemesis outside Zanu PF after he boldly ordered recalls on dozens of former MDC elected representatives from both parliament and councils following his fallout with allies.
