Finding the right job for Sikhala

BM: You have been suspended from the MDC-M over your outbursts challenging the leadership. What is your reaction to this suspension and is it not too late to attack Mutambara?
JS:  I still stand by what I said from the beginning for the following reason: That this formation (MDC-M) has been transformed slowly but surely into an extension of ZANU-PF. It’s never too late to correct any wrongs, so it’s not too late.
BM: What do you mean by an extension of ZANU-PF?
JS: The outbursts of the leadership and their public conduct have been confirming that they believe in the ZANU-PF school of thought. The following clearly illustrates what I am saying: First, when Mutambara introduced (President Robert) Mugabe at the launch of the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme at The Rainbow Towers, he told everyone that (President) Mugabe is the Godfather of Africa and that the man is a reservoir of wisdom. The majority of our supporters saw this as an endorsement of (President) Mugabe’s brutality which they have been experiencing since the formation of the MDC in 1999. There are many people who lost their lives when Mutambara was not even there. There are many people whose homes were destroyed, many whose livestock was ravaged and where was Mutambara? These are the people I represent who have taken this as the greatest betrayal of their cause. Two, when Mutambara says the land reform is irreversible, this is purely the chorus of ZANU-PF and our belief in the MDC-M was that we wanted to take a national land audit to see who is where and how that person got there and what production is going on there since the country has been starving for the past decade since the so-called land reform programme started. This statement seems to have been uttered by him after he had been told to say so by some powers that be. Three, the other issue was when Mutambara attacked the West. That smacked of a ZANU-PF agenda. The other issue stems from his statement in Masvingo about three weeks ago when he said that after the two year constitutional reform process takes place the lifespan of the inclusive government should be extended by five years. This is clearly an attempt by Mutambara to see (President) Mugabe achieving his dream to die as the life President of Zimbabwe. Imagine adding seven more years to (President) Mugabe’s current 85 years? This is how people perceive it.
BM: The national disciplinary committee is preparing to drag you before it. Will you attend?
JS: I will not attend a Kangaroo court called by people whose direction is to drown the people of Zimbabwe into the dungeon of poverty and who do not want to be told the truth. With all due respect, Brian, how can I attend a hearing on a suspension which has been orchestrated by an individual who is an invited guest to a political party I founded. Arthur Mutambara does not know even the date when the MDC was formed nor the place where it was launched and when he was elected to lead this formation he was sold a party card the day before the congress by Professor Welshman Ncube, so I can’t dignify a man whose knowledge of the MDC is far-fetched. I am a naturalised member of the MDC and will not dignify their hearing by attending it. We need to tell the guest that he has overstayed.
BM: I understand that you have since left the Mutambara-led group, what is your way forward?
JS: It is true that I have left the group because I regard them as sellouts. I remain a member of the MDC I founded in 1999. I am continuing with my programmes which I started until Mutambara is gone. The rallies that I have held so far in Nkayi, Rusape, Chipadze Stadium in Bindura and Mhondoro have been very encouraging. This week I am going into his backyard. I have a rally in Mutungagore, Makoni South, one in Mutasa South constituency and a provincial assembly meeting in Mutare urban. I am going to embark on these programmes until I have covered the nation, which will culminate in massive demonstrations against Mutambara’s leadership.
BM: Mystery surrounds the source of your funds. Who is funding you to go on these road shows?
JS: Money alone is not enough to inspire an individual to embark on a cause. Of course everybody in my party knows that since I lost the election in 2008 I embarked on a massive business investment drive and my businesses have been doing quite well and now I am ploughing back (into the community) through political agitation. So the funds are coming from my businesses.
BM: What businesses do you run that have the capacity to fund your crusade?
JS: I am into transport, construction and manufacturing and currently in the process of constructing a shopping mall in Chitungwiza.
BM: The inclusive government has been seen as a positive step forward by many, what is your view regarding the Global Political Agreement?
JS: Positive direction to where? To darkness? So far nothing has improved in the livelihoods of the people. The inclusive government was put in place when the University of Zimbabwe was operating, but now it has been shut down. It was put in place when schools were closed and nothing has improved. It was formed when there was no medicine in hospitals and the situation remains the same. Life has become even more difficult while a few individuals feast the remainder of the national cake. Those people (the inclusive government) are in a no nonsense mood against dissenting voices because they are living lavishly and driving all sorts of flashy vehicles, sleeping in expensive hotels when the majority of the people are suffering.
BM: When do you expect to finish your tour?
JS: By October it would be done and people must keep their ears on the ground for further programmes.