The Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU PF) chairperson for Matabeleland North province, Richard Moyo, has likened opposition parties to hyenas. He made the comment during a speech at the ordination of the new Holiness Apostolic Church archbishop, Mzamani Mpofu, in Inyathi, Matabeleland North.
Moyo took advantage of the occasion to preach politics, stating that all leaders are chosen or appointed by God. He went on to describe President Emmerson Mnangagwa as the lion that has managed to hunt and sort out things in Zimbabwe, with ZANU PF as his pride. Moyo then referred to opposition political parties as hyenas that eat the lion’s kill.
He claimed that Mnangagwa has done a lot of things, such as the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, the two national power grids that will soon be commissioned, and ensuring that people no longer have to queue for fuel, bread, or mealie-meal.
The ZCCA president, Rocky Moyo, who invited Richard Moyo to the event, also spoke at the ordination. He urged churches to work hand in glove with the government because leaders in government were appointed by God. Rocky Moyo also attacked fake prophets, saying that the only true prophets are the ones ordained by the ZCCA.
The comments made by Richard Moyo have been met with criticism from the opposition parties, with some calling for him to retract his statement. The MDC Alliance spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, tweeted that Moyo’s comments were “unacceptable” and “divisive.”
This is not the first time that ZANU PF has likened the opposition to animals. In 2017, President Mnangagwa referred to former President Robert Mugabe’s opponents as “rats” that needed to be exterminated.