The Sunday Mail
Opposition activist Ms Linda Masarira fervently supported Operation Restore Legacy, which saw the resignation of former President Robert Mugabe, and her court application challenging the legality of the operation is a blatant show of double standards, political analysts have said.
Last week, Ms Masarira filed a Constitutional Court challenge against the legality of an exercise she freely and actively participated in.
The activist, who is no stranger to dishonesty and fraudulence, last year torched a storm after she posted pictures and a video on Facebook and Twitter falsely claiming that she had been assaulted by suspected state security agents.
Her close associates later revealed she was lying that she had been abducted when in fact she had been bashed by her boyfriend.
After the humiliating exposé, Ms Masarira backtracked, denying that she had claimed State security agents had attacked her.
In her court application, she challenges the deployment of army officers on the streets, yet pictures and videos posted on her Facebook timeline during the 18 November march show her joining thousands of other Zimbabweans, calling for the then President to resign.
In one of the videos posted during the march, Ms Masarira celebrates the deployment of the military while praising fellow demonstrators.
In a video under the caption, “Zimbabweans waited for a day like this and now it’s here”, the activist, who is off camera, appears clearly elated with the events.
She says, “You know what the beauty of the day is that no one has been forced, no one has been coerced today.
“People are like going out on their own because they believe they have to do that.
“Unoziva kuti chii? lf Mugabe has got a TV, today he can (have a) stroke — apa pamwe akarara ahasi kutombozviona — he is probably sleeping.
“You see all these cars in this convoy are marching (sic) to State House. There are millions of people walking to State House.
“So, I am just wondering if Mugabe is awake or he is sleeping and people are telling him this is what has happened and he goes like, “Hakuna zvakadaro ndini President we Zimbabwe”. Asi vanhu vacho vamuramba.
“People have been waiting for years to do something like this but the police was just frustrating people and today is D-day. Zimbabweans have actually come out to express themselves.”
Later on she posted: “Today came and finally after years of forced submission by Mugabe, the people of Zimbabwe came out to express their feelings and demand Mugabe to step down.
“For years I dreamt of this day and today I saw it.
“Millions of Zimbabweans in the streets.
“Freely there and not force marched.
“Different people from all walks of life exercising their right to demonstrate.”
On November 20, she posted a picture with President of the Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, celebrating the march.
The picture is captioned: “With Chief Charumbira after the March on Saturday. By the way ndiri muroora wekwaCharumbira.”
Later she posted: “Isn’t it ironic that the man who never respected the constitutional rights of Zimbabweans is now clinging to the constitution for survival?”
She was also interviewed on BBC as she praised the military intervention, calling for President Mugabe to step down.
Political analyst Mr Godwin Mureriwa said the application was an attempt by the activist to get donor funding for her anticipated election campaign. “Operation Restore Legacy was done in accordance with the country’s constitution, while the political processes both in Zanu-PF and Parliament were done in accordance with the rules governing the two institutions.
“Further, the High Court also made a determination that everything was done above board in the aftermath of the operation.
This is the reason why institutions such as SADC, the Africa Union and the European Union among others have all backed the new Government.
“That is why the new Government has found acceptance within the international community.”
University of Pretoria PHD scholar and political commentator Mr Alban Gambe said, “Baseless court fights of this nature should be expected during an election season.
“This is basically a desperate attempt by the activist to get free publicity. She knows the chances of getting a favourable ruling are next to none but the mileage she will get is immense.”‘Hypocrite’ Musarira at it again.
