Zimbabwean opposition leader Nelson Chamisa dropped a political bombshell, announcing that he has abandoned the Citizens’ Coalition for Change on Thursday afternoon, exactly 2 years after its formation.
He says the party has been hijacked and bastardised by Zanu PF through captured state institutions. This comes as self-appointed secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu–who has gifted the ruling Zanu PF with legislative seats on a silver platter–continues wreaking havoc. In a 13-page statement, Chamisa lists his reasons for taking this significant move. Among these, he cites the 23 August elections and a flawed delimitation report in his statement.
The question that remains on many people’s minds is what happens next now as Chamisa has over 50 MPs in parliament and councillors. The mayors of the two biggest cities in the country belong to him and also several other senators.
In April 2023, Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono once mentioned that CCC is dead as a dodo following its silence in preparations for the elections, but Chamisa pulled a shocker in a disputed election where he garnered over 40% votes in the presidential race.
There have been calls for the total withdrawal of CCC MPs from parliament since Tshabangu started recalling elected members. Political analysts, however, warned against such moves as it would create total chaos and a one-party state like most Communist states in the 20th century.
This vacuum by Chamisa allows Tshabangu to take full ownership of the CCC movement and field his candidates at will. All MPs who do not submit to him will be recalled, but the problem facing this faction of CCC is that they are not willing to have by-elections. This means all seats recalled by Tshabangu are being granted to Zanu PF.
Alternatively, the remaining MPs can choose to continue to fight Tshabangu, but this can only be done through a formal party constitution that will determine roles of people. Once this process is done, it will be possible to get rid of what the CCC calls an imposter. However, it is not given that the courts will recognize whoever will come after Tshabangu, as they have failed to recognize formal communication from Chamisa.
Another thing other political actors have to realize is that Chamisa is not going to fold and sleep in Gutu; the young man has been active in Zimbabwe politics for over 20 years and is definitely working on a next plan and has millions of people ready to follow wherever he goes. Many Zimbabweans have made it clear that they will not follow the MDC led by Mwonzora, so he remains the option of hope.
Politics is a chess game, and once all the players understand this, they have to realize that there is something that can always be done. The elected members of CCC can also embark on a total withdrawal, which will jeopardize and expose the incompetence of Zanu PF in local authorities, but this has to be done in a way that makes sure that Tshabangu does not gain any votes. They can create a scenario for recalls, and once that is done, they can then choose to campaign as independent candidates.
With all these scenarios possible, the political environment in Zimbabwe remains uncertain, and this will affect investment, and the ordinary Zimbabwean will pay the price.
Of all possibilities what political players have to avoid is the repetition of what African movements in Uganga , Rwanda and Zaire witnessed in the 20th century when millions of people lost their lives because of these political disgruntlements. Whatever happens has to be bloodless and with peace anf harmony.
