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Herald Reporter
Foul-MOUTHed CCC deputy leader Mr Tendai Biti has come under fire for using a racial slur to characterise his rival Mr Allan Markham and labelling those supporting his candidature “snakes”.
The video has caused a stir on social media, with political observers and activists, including from CCC, and especially those loyal to Mr Chamisa, calling for action from the leadership.
In a 2-minute, 50-second video clip, Mr Biti takes a subtle jab at Mr Markham, calling those who are supporting him ‘snakes’ for having the temerity to support “vasina mabvi,” a derogatory Shona phrase for white people.
“What is the Chamisa-led CCC doing ahead of 23 August harmonised elections to bring to order known political violence instigators like thuggish Biti calling for the crushing like snakes of political opponents?” asked a Twitter user @TendayiZinyama.
Another Twitter user who uses the handle @mhofela_mhofu slammed Mr Biti for using hate speech, saying he was slowly becoming accustomed to it.
“At 56, Tendai ‘Zidera’ Biti’s still foul-mouthed. No one expects him to learn to control his mouth at that age. He has a pending lawsuit in court for verbal diarrhoea”.
Social media user @Shashie08 said: “Please @USEmbZim deal with Biti. He is threatening Mr Markham. Political violence here. Please tweet about it as well. Let’s not have double standards. Thanks in advance.”
Mr Biti’s comments, according to political commentator Mr Kudzai Mutisi, are a direct indication of his displeasure with the CCC candidate selection process.
“Tendai Biti is clearly upset about the candidate selection process in the @CCCZimbabwe …. But the fact that he uses such crude language and unrestrained toxicity makes him worse than those he is ranting against… he feels entitled, bad politics!”
Mr Biti and Mr Markham are both vying for Harare East’s Parliamentary seat after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) dismantled the latter’s Harare North constituency in its 2023 Delimitation Report.
Political commentators and activists have since blasted CCC for failing to bring to order known political violence instigators like Mr Biti.
Mr Chamisa’s loyalist, Mr Tafadzwa Ngadziore, a student leader and activist, ordered Mr Biti to withdraw his words and apologise.
“TOLERANCE, A MORAL VALUE: Hate speech is inflammatory & yet detrimental to the Fresh Politics being furthered by @CCCZimbabwe. Absolutely, phrases like, ‘vasina-mabvi & nyoka’, don’t have space in the New Great Zimbabwe vision led by @Nelsonchamisa3, as they sow seeds of division,” he tweeted.
This comes at a time Mr Chamisa is allegedly plotting to push Mr Biti to contest for a Senatorial seat instead of a House of Assembly seat to open a slot for Mr Markham.
Mr Markham has been a member of the National Assembly for Harare North since 2018, a constituency which was merged with Mr Biti’s Harare East Constituency.
Online Reporter