While this bold statement from Gwisai left prosecutor Michael Reza in stunned silence, it elicited jubilation from others attending the trial of the former MDC-T legislator.
‘Mugabe must go and it is my opinion and I am entitled to it. He is old and has had over 30 years in office as Prime Minister and President.
The state has finished cross examining Gwisai and the trial proceeds on Thursday with Antonator Choto taking to the witness stand. The duo and four others are being charged with conspiracy to commit public violence.
Gwisai and Choto are being jointly charged with Tatenda Mombeyarara, Edson Chakuma, Hopewell Gumbo and Welcome Zimuto. They all deny the charges. The six were part of a group of 44 activists who were arrested on 19th February last year while gathered at Cross Roads House in Harare.
Gwisai had arranged a seminar entitled ‘Revolt in Egypt and Tunisia. What lessons can be learnt by Zimbabwe and Africa.’ The assembled group viewed videos of the Arab spring uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt and discussed the implications for their own situation.
In the midst of the discussion CIO agents and police raided the place and took all of them into custody. While 38 were released within days, it took a month before Gwisai and the five others to be released on bail. SW Radio Africa
Post published in: Africa News
I would like to say to Munyaradzi Gwisai I think President Mugabe knows himself and his capabilities better than most. Too many time the people looks to government and the officials to do everything we desire. Zimbabweans, especially those in the Diaspora, must shoulder much of the task to carry the country forward. Those in the Diaspora with the many talents and skills obtained from working and heading others operations and institutions is required to bring those same talents back to build their own nation. You can not expect that Official who yesterday may have been a barber today you expect them to address the most complicated matters with precision. The citizens are required to demonstrate responsibility just as they expect the same from officials. I remember my uncle letting me take his car by myself only after he was confident that I could handle the task. I respect Robert Mugabe’s decision to step down when he and his supporters decides and hope Mr. Gwisai would too.
Gwisai emerged more than a couple of decades ago as new phenomenon in Zimbabwe – a dreadlocked intellectual who dared to challenge much in the society before him. His dreadlocks, not understood at that time, distracted from the seriousness of his words – he seemed an exhibitionist, notwithstanding the great fame of dreadlocked Bob Marley who came to our country’s formal launch into the 20th Century at the Independence ceremony at Rufaro Stadium in 1980. Now, in this new century, a more cosmopolitan outlook prevails, Gwisai is a serious man, a teacher and a lawyer whose views deserve respect.