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1/ What is treason? Everybody who criticizes the government, calls on people to exercise their power to pressure the govt to resign or calls for the government to go is charged with it. Remember that the VP Chiwenga was accused of treason by Mugabe in that statement by SK Moyo.
2/ He had warned Mugabe against purging Comrades and threatened that the army would not stand aside and watch this happen. This was after ED had run to exile.
3/ Almost every leader worth his salt in Zanu PF and PF Zapu was charged with treason by Ian Smith. This was even before they waged the armed struggle. Their crime was to call for the removal or overthrow of the unlawful & racist Rhodesian regime. We called them freedom fighters.
4/ So what EXACTLY did Job Sikhala say? What was/is the context? Simply calling for removal of a government is not treason. Treason is the crime of betraying one's country, especially by attempting to kill or overthrow the sovereign or government. There has to be more.
5/ What else did he do? Did he plan a violent overthrow of the president, buy arms, plan a coup? My father, Sidney Malunga, a snr Zapu figure, was charged with treason in 1983- accused of supplying dissidents with clothes, food & cigarettes. He was acquitted- no proof.
6/It is legitimate & proper for citizens to PEACEFULLY rise up against despotic leaders.This has happened in Egypt, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Algeria, Tunisia, Ukraine, Georgia, Romania- the list is endless.The UN & AU has recognized the legitimacy of peaceful people power.
7/ Treason is the highest crime that can be committed a country. It is serious.The use of violence or force to gain political power is the greatest attack on constitutional democracy.The UN, SADC & AU strictly prohibit it. Zimbabweans must condemn it. I have done so many times.
8/ There has been enough violence in Zimbabwe's tortured political history. And the price has been high and continues to be paid today. But that must not stop people for calling for the removal of a govt, politician or leader.There are many non treasonous ways for this to happen.
