Former ZANU PF youth leader Jim Kunaka has accused Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) president Nelson Chamisa of neglecting jailed Job Sikhala saying it is useless to sacrifice one of his own because of the love for power.
Sikhala was arrested in June over the 14 June violence that erupted in Nyatsime during the funeral wake of slain CCC activist, Moreblessing Ali.
He has been at Chikurubi Maximum Prison since then with courts denying him bail countless times Tuesday being his latest attempt to be freed.
Kunaka made the remarks on Wednesday at a news conference called under the banner of the newly formed Friends of Job Sikhala Solidarity Trus. He is quoted by ZimLive.com as saying:
We know the dynamics of power in CCC. There is one who is afraid that Job Sikhala will take power away from him.
Gentlemen, when we have reached such a critical stage, let us forget about power. It’s useless to want power, sacrificing one of your own, simply because you are afraid they will overtake you.
All MPs are quiet, going to parliament business drinking tea, mixing and mingling with the likes of Ziyambi Ziyambi, failing to tell that minister of justice to remove his hand he put in the judiciary.
In past comments, CCC national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere denied claims that the party has abandoned the activists blaming the police and the courts for allegedly standing between the activists and their constitutionally guaranteed rights.
She argued that no amount of street protests would result in the release of the party loyalists she claimed were victims of a judiciary system that was taking orders from politicians.
Kunaka concurred President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration was indeed manipulating the courts to keep opposition members in jail.
He urged CCC to step aside if they were finding it difficult to rescue Sikhala saying “the real citizens will take the lead and will see if Sikhala will not be released from prison.”
During his time in ZANU PF, Kunaka led the notorious Mbare-based Chipangano militia group which terrorised members of the opposition MDC.
Kunaka – why don’t you get him and his comrades out of jail, then. Show us your balls.
u are ryt Jim. Someone is sacrificing the sheep but waiting to seat on the throne. True leaders lead from the front as did Tsvangirai going through beatings etc. This one has clean hands and is afraid to be soiled. May be Sikhala must lead since he is more than willing to carry the burden. If there is a way of intervention citizen or otherwise lets look into that because CCC will not help ryt now. They have the confidence and support of the populace but they are not willing to come forward. I am even wondering what will happen if they win elections and the army and Zanu PF tell them to get lost.
CCC be careful… of outside saints of violence… being advisors….