Nelson Chamisa Confidential cables sent by US diplomats in Harare to Washington, and recently leaked by the WikiLeaks website, appear to show different MDC officials discussing the political situation in the country and various options to peacefully force long time ruler Robert Mugabe to step down. ZANU PF have seized on the cables as evidence that the MDC were and are consorting with western powers to effect regime change.
Speaking on SW Radio Africas Question Time programme, Chamisa said ZANU PF had desperately sought to use leaked cables as political tools, but this would have no impact on them and they were not worried in the slightest. As a National Council (MDC) we are not going to be bothered with gossip and hearsay. Those cables are mere gossip and opinions by individuals in the corridors of the diplomatic circles, Chamisa said.
Responding to claims by the Attorney General Johannes Tomana that he would launch an inquiry into the WikiLeaks saga, Chamisa said the AG had failed to act on the violence and murder in the June 2008 election. He said Tomanas own appointment was still a subject of dispute in the coalition government and even without shooting the messenger, the message from Tomana is not credible either.
The WikiLeaks saga took a new twist last week when a group of cyber-activists, calling themselves Anonymous, shut down several Zimbabwe government websites. The group is protesting against a lawsuit filed by Grace Mugabe who is suing the Standard newspaper for publishing a story quoting WikiLeaks cables, accusing her of making tremendous profit from illegal diamond trading.
Chamisa, who is the Minister of Information Communication Technology, said we have managed to work round the clock to deal with the problem and I must say that within a short space of time we should be back online for the few websites that have been brought down. He said they had a competent team of experts, and security for the websites was a top priority at the moment.
Tune in to Question Time to listen to the full interview with ICT Minister and MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa.
Post published in: News