By Leonnel Mhuka
In an interview on Change Radio, veteran human rights defender and seasoned political activist Dr. Felix Magalela Mafa Sibanda delivered a passionate and thought-provoking political analysis, declaring Nelson Chamisa as the most popular and credible political figure in Zimbabwe today.
Dr. Sibanda, who has spent decades immersed in the country’s socio-political landscape, described Chamisa as “the man to be the future president of this country,” describing his unmatched popularity and spiritual grounding.
Sibanda lauded Chamisa’s controversial but calculated decision to take a sabbatical from formal party politics, framing it as a strategic retreat intended to expose opportunists and pretenders who had long undermined his leadership.
“This young man has seen and is inspired by the Holy Ghost that he has to take a sabbatical leave so that those opportunists, those propagandists, those self-styled leadership, those puppets, those armchair critics, those who want silver and those who want to reap what they did not sow should be exposed.”
“Hence, the young man took a political sabbatical leave to give such malcontents time and a long rope so that they are measured by the populace of Zimbabwe.”
A Vacuum in the Opposition Chamisa’s absence has not only silenced the opposition but also exposed the lack of credibility among those who sought to take his place.
“It’s now more than one and a half years since he resigned from a political party, but said he will remain politically active. Those aforesaid have run short of breath, they’ve not even emerged, but fighting among themselves.” Mafa said
“It is now an open secret that since he left, there is no opposition in Zimbabwe to talk about. He has made all those people redundant. He has exposed their inefficiency.” He added
Sibanda responded to critics who accused Chamisa of monopolizing the opposition by asserting that Chamisa deliberately gave others space to prove themselves, only for them to collapse under their own contradictions.
“Yes, some were saying he’s monopolizing political terrain. He went to a cocoon to give them that chance so that they propagate their philosophy and whatever they wanted people to know. The results are quite clear: that since that man resigned from active politics, there is no opposition to talk about in Zimbabwe.”
Dr. Sibanda did not mince words when addressing those who have aligned themselves with the ruling ZANU PF, calling them “sellouts” and “irrelevant.”
“Some of those malcontents, pretenders, hypocrites, they’ve tried to collaborate with ZANU PF but ZANU PF has also found it out that they are irrelevant. They are now running aimlessly like a headless chicken.”
He mentioned individuals by name, including Tshabangu, Welshman Ncube, Douglas Mwonzora and Morgen Komichi, criticizing their actions and motives.
“We have people like Tshabangu who have sold out outrightly but ZANU PF has soon discovered that he cannot change the status quo of the opposition.”
“We have Welshman Ncube, Professor in Legal Fraternity. He’s quiet, he’s fighting for monies for Political Finance Act as a beneficiary of former CCC legislators. Douglas Mwonzora has gone for a hiding. Komichi, the same way.”
Dr. Sibanda’s central message remained consistent throughout: Nelson Chamisa is still the people’s choice. His popularity, according to Sibanda, transcends formal structures, and his strategic silence has only strengthened his position in the eyes of ordinary Zimbabweans.
While Chamisa has yet to declare a new political home or formal return, Sibanda believes the writing is on the wall for all who doubted his influence.
“Zimbabwe’s hope for change rests with him,” Sibanda implied throughout his address.
