COVID 19: Lockdown Day 7 and the legitimacy crisis

Nelson Mandela Bridge in Braamfontein Image Alon Skuy

Its Wednesday mid day and tomorrow marks day seven of  the lock down in SA. It will be exactly one week without being outdoors of my building precinct . Covid 19 has already resulted in five deaths in SA  and over a 1000 infected. I think staying indoors has made mankind to return back to basics, spending more time with loved ones and being able to communicate while appreciating the presence of others.

As for me, working from home has made this lock down period much more productive and rather surprisingly busy. Although as a social media junkie I could not help it but follow the trends on twitter. One thing that quickly grabbed my attention is the #dontrushchallenge. A challenge that for once actually challenges social stereotypes and highlights different aspects of femininity. I found the challenge not only about beauty enhancement by women, but rather went on to show religious differences, academic success to issues on sexuality by different women across the globe. At a time when the world is busy fighting the Covid 19 scourge, #dontrushchallenge brought out something different and entertaining to netizens across the globe. The track that accompanies the challenge also makes it worth watching too.It seemed though Zimbabwe's opposition leader Nelson Chamisa had his own drama coming on the second day of Zimbabwe's lock down.

Nelson Chamisa

Being an avid follower of news from home, I joined thousands to comment on the Supreme Court judgement on Zimbabwe's main opposition. The judgement stated that Nelson Chamisa was not the legitimate leader of the MDC-T and effectively placed Thokozani Khupe as the party's leader. The decision seemed rather expected as a huge police deployment was placed outside Harvest House before the ruling. Khupe who had not used her twitter account in two years was suddenly active on the micro-blogging site hours before the ruling. Then they where the turncoats now deemed "sellouts" by most MDC Alliance fanatics. Douglas Mwonzora and Morgan Komichi were quick to state that the MDC reverts to its 2014 structure and hold a congress to elect its new leadership. The big question is where does this leave Nelson Chamisa. He has been deemed illegitimate, some where quick to call him out on karma and that he had been warned against his power grabbing approach after Morgan Tsvangirai's death.

Although, it seems Chamisa still has a huge support base within opposition politics in Zimbabwe. Some may even suggest he has more support than the regime, yet this dent from his own legal appeal to the supreme court seems not to bother Chamisa and his so called 2 million plus voters. Time will surely tell what happens to the MDC, will the brand that has given hope to the multitudes of Zimbabweans at home and abroad suddenly just vanish? Is Chamisa ready to go it alone with a new political party? What happens to the MDC Alliance and its partners, the elected MPs, mayors and councillors?

I am no legal expert, but the political circus in Zimbabwe is hardly over, it may only be just the beginning. As i look though the window of my apartment the clouds are becoming darker, it seems like its going to rain. Its Day 7 tomorrow the streets are quiet, you can even count the number of cars on the road. I guess we getting used to staying indoors, I can even smell the rain hopefully these are showers of blessing during this difficult time. Nature seems to have reclaimed itself animals big and small are roaming freely while for once mankind is bundled under walls and ceilings. Stay safe, signing out Generationx18.