ZENGEZA West Member of Parliament Job Sikhala celebrated his 48th birthday on Friday. INTERVIEW BY MOSES MATENGA The politician was recently arrested and charged with inciting violence ahead of the abortive July 31 protests. He is out on bail and the MDC Alliance vice chairperson has insisted the country was ripe for a revolution. He speaks to NewsDay senior reporter Moses Matenga (ND) on his political career and other issues. ND: What is your view of the political situation in Zimbabwe and what you prescribe as a possible solution? JS: Zimbabwe has never been at crossroads the same way it is today. The State is totally under the leadership of hopeless people who depend on abuse of our security services to continue subduing the will of the people. The people currently running State affairs are hopeless, looters and bloodthirsty. In a normal situation, they should not be allowed to be in power a second longer. Corruption has become Lord Mormon by these atheists. Unprecedented deterioration of the economy, total collapse of the education system through failure to solve the teachers’ grievances, escalating human rights abuses through torture, abductions, and throttling of the democratic space are serious issues which cannot be allowed in the 21st century. We owe this country to ourselves and we are the only ones who should claim our country back from these clueless leaders. The solution is on the citizens operating beyond party politics to reclaim their country. The destiny is owned by citizens and these are things I ponder over during this day of my birthday on October 30. ND: Of the chaos in the opposition camp, as one of the leaders, do you think you are doing enough to deal with the situation? JS: There is no chaos in the people of Zimbabwe. They know what they want. They want their freedom and happiness. They are the owners of the struggle. Zimbabwe belongs to all of us. When individuals squabble, citizens remain focused. We generated July 31 and shook the world when people were diverted to non-events. Mnangagwa creates a crisis for you to defocus the people. They all know that. They will never pander to Mnangagwa’s diversionary tactics. Zimbabweans are cleverer than that. Opposition to Mnangagwa’s dictatorship has rather grown bigger. His end is nigh and he knows it. ND: Recently you advised the party leadership against depending on popularity alone and saying there was need for action, can you elaborate? JS: Power is begotten through commitment, risk taking and forthrightness. We need to increase our levels of tenacity and determination. Exactly, what several liberation war heroes did. Throwing caution to the wind and bringing the people’s struggle to the fore. This becomes the foundation of the people’s strategies and planning built around the political doctrine of tenacity. ND: There is speculation that you have warmed to Khupe’s MDC-T. This has been confirmed by the MDC-T. What’s your comment? JS: If you are following what Khalipani Phugeni (MDC-T national spokesperson) said, then you are failing to read his i