“Help Us So That We Help Ourselves,” Chamisa Pleads With South African Political Parties

Zimbabwean opposition politician Nelson Chamisa has called on South Africa’s main political parties to support democracy and free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.

Speaking to South African broadcaster eNCA on Monday night, Chamisa said Zimbabweans need help in resolving their political problems.

When asked about the implications of a third term for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Chamisa appealed to the ANC, DA, and EFF to assist Zimbabweans so they can take control of their own future. Said Chamisa:

“Well, of course, that’s an extension of corruption. It’s an extension of illegitimacy. It’s an extension of unemployment.

“It’s an extension of more problems for South Africa. As you know, over two million Zimbabweans are in the diaspora, particularly in South Africa, and we are a burden to our neighbours.

“We continue to have that extension until and unless the Zimbabwean problem is fixed. So we need… it’s not a personality issue per se, but it’s a systems issue, it’s a process issue.

“We need to have institutions of the state that are agreed upon. We need to have processes of the nation, national processes must be agreed upon.

“Elections must produce outcomes that are supported by all citizens, just like in South Africa, in Botswana and any other civilised, democratic country. That is what we want to see, and that’s our fight.

“This is why we continue to say to South Africa, to ANC, to the DA, to EFF: help us help ourselves.

“Our fight is a fight for justice, a fight for freedom, a fight for constitutionalism and a fight for democracy, a fight for change. Help us so that we help ourselves.”

Chamisa was asked why he believed the election due in 2028 would be any different from the disputed polls in 2013, 2018, and 2023. In response, he said:

“That’s why we have a fight. It’s not going to be different if we don’t fight. It’s a struggle. As you know, not all struggles are instant coffee.

“It’s not a walk in the park, you know? It’s not an overnight thing. It’s always a marathon. It’s always a relay.

“We must fight. You know that fighting the dictatorship in South Africa, the apartheid regime, was not an overnight job.

“Fighting dictatorship in Zimbabwe under the Rhodesian regime of Ian Douglas Smith was not overnight. It was quite an uphill task.

“And we are not under any illusion that ours is a fight, and it’ll take time. But we are not going to relent. We are not going to give up until we achieve our victory and success.

“So yes, it’s a fight. We are fighting for reforms. We are fighting to make sure that we stop all the tomfoolery by Mr Mnangagwa and his team.

“We are fighting to make sure that we stop corruption and the raiding of state coffers and the looting of national resources, which has actually gone to another level.

“We are fighting to make sure that we restore the sanctity and the integrity of our institutions of government, which, as you are aware, have actually gone to the dogs.”