Opposition party leaders appointed public official...

Opposition party leaders appointed public officials must be held accountable, says Rev Mtata

Oscar J Jeke

Clergyman Rev Dr Kenneth Mtata, who serves as general-secretary of the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, has said that everyone who holds public office must be held accountable, whether they are in government, the ruling party or the opposition.

In a video posted on X, the cleric questioned why the opposition often cries foul when asked accountability questions.

““We understand the questions that we are being too harsh with an opposition that works under difficult conditions when we ask accountability questions but we do so with government, we do so with the ruling party and when we do, normally we get applauded for raising accountability questions on the government and ruling party.

“But now when we ask accountability questions on the opposition there is an outcry. The point is very clear, if the way individual leaders and those who seek public office, how they make decisions is a reflection of how they understand what it is to govern,” Mtata said.

The cleric’s video responds to individuals questioning his analysis and questions raised on the resignation of Nelson Chamisa from the Citizens Coalition for Change party and its implications on the ordinary citizens.

Rev Mtata had commented on Chamisa’s resignation from the CCC , saying that it shows the deepening crisis of multi-party democracy in the country.

Mtata said Chamisa’s resignation might be the beginning of something new or the beginning of the end.

“Today, the leader of the largest opposition party in Zimbabwe, Nelson Chamisa announced his dissociation with the CCC project: ‘officially, and under my hand, inform you, fellow citizens of Zimbabwe and the world, that, with immediate effect, I no longer have anything to do with CCC.’

“On one hand, I sincerely sympathise with Nelson Chamisa, who had been quite innovative in trying to navigate an almost impossible political environment. I hope this is a strategic retreat for renewal.

“This announcement creates an opportunity for collective and credible leadership, maybe not around yet another political party, but a process (a national re-imagination process). Such a process may attend to the party politics at some point, but what is urgent for most people today are bread and butter issues because of a struggling economy characterised by out-of-control inflation, resulting in increasing violent crime, and desperate citizenry.

“To address this, the nation needs unity of purpose. Without the cooperation of credible leadership outside the establishment, positive change will be difficult to achieve,” Rev Mtata commented.

Chamisa’s supporters have been slammed for their failure to take criticism, no matter how constructive and sensible of their leader, and those who hold different views from the former CCC leader.