Correspondent|MDC leader Nelson Chamisa went to Chitungwiza to comfort the family of Kelvin Choto who was shot to death in the head during last week’s violent protests in Chitungwiza.
The 22-year-old Choto, who was the captain of Chitungwiza City Football Club, is survived by a wife and a seven-month-old baby.
Said Chamisa: “A 22-year old footballer, Kelvin Choto was shot dead during the stay-away. (He) had a young wife and a 7 months old daughter. Kelvin was not active in politics. Killings and violence are barbaric ways of resolving national challenges!”
Choto was shot in the head on Monday when violence broke out in Chitungwiza and all over the country during the stayaway called by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and backed by civil movements, including Tajamuka and #ThisFlag Movement.
He was coming from the nearby Makoni shopping centre where he had gone for soccer betting when he was caught in the cross fire. A bullet ripped off part of his head when he moved from a mango tree where he had taken refuge.
Chamisa, who said he attended the funeral as a private citizen, said Mnangagwa had no justification to use the military no matter the gravity of protests.
He said it was government’s responsibility to respect the sanctity of life as provided in the constitution under the Bill of Rights, not vice versa. Chamisa blasted the government for failing to send even a low-ranking official to console the family and offer burial assistance.
“I want to write a letter to Mnangagwa, asking him why he is killing his people. We want to take the matter up with Sadc, the UN and all organs and tell them that the people are under siege from their own government,” Chamisa said.
He blasted the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation for biased reporting; warning such “type of reckless reporting” was causing divisions in the country and had the potential of causing a Rwanda-type genocide.
At least 12 people have reportedly been killed by the military and other state agents since violence broke out during last week’s protests. Government has blamed the MDC for the violence.