Chikwinya,
was
one
of
the
six
legislators
who
were
recalled
from
Parliament
on
March
17,
2021,
by
the
People
Democratic
Party
(PDP),
having
won
the
Mbizo
seat
in
2018
for
the
MDC
Alliance.
In
an
interview
with
CITE,
Chikwinya,
seeking
to
reclaim
his
seat,
lamented
how
the
ruling
party
was
allowed
to
go
about
their
campaigning
activities,
unlike
the
opposition.
“So
far
there
are
no
incidences
of
violence
but
when
we
look
at
the
issue
of
environment,
we
remain
concerned
by
the
selective
application
of
the
law-by-law
enforcement
agencies
who
are
arresting
members
of
CCC
as
they
embark
on
their
campaign
yet
they
leave
Zanu
PF
members,”
he
said.
“We
have
been
addressed
by
the
Dispol
Superintendent
Commanding
Kwekwe
District
who
told
us
we
must
not
embark
on
door-to-door
campaigns
and
car
rallies.
However,
Zanu
PF
is
doing
the
same,
going
ahead
without
any
police
problems.”
National
Police
Spokesperson,
Assistant
Commissioner,
Paul
Nyathi,
said
he
could
not
respond
to
the
issue
as
he
was
not
aware
of
it.
“Maybe
it’s
communication
at
provincial
level,
I
can’t
answer
on
something
I’m
not
really
appraised
of.
Zanu
PF
has
its
own
spokesperson.
As
for
the
alleged
police
directive,
I
am
not
aware.
Maybe
you
can
contact
the
provincial
police
spokesperson
for
Midlands,”
Nyathi
said
when
reached
for
comment.
Nevertheless,
Chikwinya
said
CCC
was
mulling
using
traditional
methods
of
campaigning,
such
as
mass
rallies
but
added
these
were
a
risk
given
in
light
of
Covid-19.
“During
these
Covid-19
times,
people
are
genuinely
afraid
of
congregating
enmasse
because
of
Covid-19.
There
are
also
limitations
due
to
Covid-19
regulations,
as
only
a
maximum
of
100
people
is
allowed
per
rally,”
he
said,
noting
mass
rallies
could
also
fail
to
work
in
reaching
out
to
people.
“The
mass
rallies
may
not
work
this
time
and
we
have
not
yet
launched
one.
Again,
we
have
to
apply
(for
permission)
and
we
are
still
weighing
options.
We
are
in
a
bit
of
a
fix
and
a
mess.”
CCC
will
be
holding
some
party
programmes
this
coming
weekend
and
Chikwinya
said
they
would
use
them
to
assess
how
the
police
would
intervene.
“The
police
are
afraid
of
the
current
ruling
party
policies
and
are
literally
quacking
in
their
own
boots,”
he
said.
“The
only
serious
contenders
are
Zanu
PF
and
CCC
so
you
find
CCC
is
the
only
one
barred
because
the
other
parties
are
not
serious
contenders
and
are
not
on
the
ground
anyway.”
He
added
that
the
party
could
step
up
its
online
campaigning
but
this
came
at
a
cost
to
consumers
of
the
message
considering
that
most
people
could
not
afford
to
buy
data.
“You
don’t
want
to
campaign
whilst
giving
a
cost
to
the
consumer
of
the
message.
The
cost
must
be
deposited
to
you,
the
intended
beneficiary.
We
have
conducted
online
press
conferences
but
for
one
to
download
16
megabytes
it’s
a
cost
and
to
me
that
type
of
campaign
will
not
reach
out
to
many
due
to
the
cost
of
our
data,”
said
the
former
legislator.
Chikwinya
said
the
party
was
hoping
to
capitalise
on
door-to-door
campaigns,
where
fliers
are
distributed
and
people
could
read
in
the
comfort
of
their
own
homes.
“But
police
working
in
liaison
with
Zanu
PF
know
this
is
a
very
effective
campaign
and
have
decided
to
bar
these
door-to-door
campaigns,”
he
alleged,
noting
a
time
would
come
when
people
would
resist
bad
laws.
“You
can
only
restrict
people
to
a
certain
extent.
If
you
come
up
with
a
bad
law
it
can
be
resisted
and
I’m
sure
we
have
no
choice
but
to
restrict
these
bad
laws.”
The
Mbizo
MP
candidate
added
his
message
to
the
electorate
was
simple.
“This
is
a
by-election.
We
have
a
constitutional
mandate
as
citizens
to
reclaim
our
space
in
Parliament
and
provide
accountability
and
transparency.
MPs
once
elected
have
a
constitutional
duty
to
put
the
government
in
check,
to
restore
constitutionalism
and
parliamentary
democracy,”
Chikwinya
said.
He
believes
parliamentary
democracy
has
been
decimated
by
politicians
who
embedded
themselves
with
the
state.
“Seen
in
the
compromise
of
one
Douglas
Mwonzora
and
remaining
MPs
who
no
longer
provide
any
debate
or
alternative
to
Zanu
PF,
purely
on
the
basis
that
they
are
now
a
compromised
outlet,”
Chikwinya
said.
Chikwinya
claimed
CCC
was
receiving
more
reception
from
people
who
were
excited
by
the
change
in
identity.
“There
is
no
more
confusion
between
MDC
Alliance
and
CCC.
People
have
one
choice
alone,”
he
said.