Chigumba’s Moscow visit was playing Russian roulette

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson, Priscilla Chigumba, waded into her first controversy as the head of the elections management body, when she was pictured in Russia with President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s adviser, Christopher Mutsvangwa.

There is a logical explanation for this, Zimbabwe had been invited to observe Russia’s elections and as the head of ZEC she felt it prudent to go, but as she has found out, perceptions matter in politics and she will be slated for that appearance.

Being pictured with Mutsvangwa ahead of elections also does not do her any favours, and to use a political term, the optics are not very good for her.

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