ZANU PF acting spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa says US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Brian Nichols is a thug involved in subversive activities to topple Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government.
Chinamasa denounced the top diplomat while addressing the media at the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare Monday.
“Concerning the machinations and antics of the US ambassador Brian Nichols and a coterie of gangsters and mercenaries who are disguised as diplomats, I want to warn them and remind them that it is high time they get to know that Zimbabwe is a sovereign republic and we are a full sovereign State,” said the former justice minister.
Chinamasa accused Nichols of coordinating and funding acts of violence in Zimbabwe.
“He continues to engage in acts that undermine this republic. If he continues to undermine the republic, mobilising, and funding disturbances coordinating violence and training in insurgency, our leadership will not hesitate to give him marching orders.
“Diplomats should not behave like thugs and Brian Nichols is a thug. Several diplomats are seconded to this country from the African Union and the world over and they have never masqueraded as our prefects as Mr. Nichols is doing.
“Don’t dare Zimbabwe. We are waiting for you. Zimbabwe is not one of the states or provinces that make the United States of America. We fought for this country to preserve it not to surrender it from those whom we tirelessly fought against. Never ever in our lifetime.”
Last month, the government summoned Nichols after a senior White House official said Zimbabwe was among “foreign adversaries” using the civil unrest in the United States following the death of George Floyd to interfere in U.S. affairs.
Moreover, Chinamasa urged party supporters to defend themselves from protesters and avoid a repeat of the deadly violence that followed post-elections demonstrations in August 2018 and the January 2019 protests over a steep fuel price hike.
Chinamasa said, in case law enforcement officers were not close by, Zanu PF members must get ready to fight the protestors who he called all sorts of names including hooligans and mercenaries.
“Zanu PF calls upon our supporters, cadres and sympathisers, wherever you are, to remain alert and ready to defend yourselves, defend our people, their property and most importantly defend peace in your communities against these malcontents, these hired hooligans and hoodlums who rejoice at burning properties and looting,” said Chinamasa.
“They must know that when they are being attacked, law enforcement agents might not be near. In those circumstances, their first line of defence is themselves and their families. They have a legal and constitutional right to defend themselves. Don’t ask for permission from anybody, it’s your constitutional and legal right.
“Don’t be intimidated by hooligans and mercenaries. Don’t be like sitting ducks as you were in August 2018, don’t be sitting ducks as you were in January 2019, phoning us (to ask what you should do). No, this time no. Use any means at your disposal to defend yourselves,” he said.
