CITIZENS’ Coalition for Change (CCC) is not a new political party.
It is a rebranded faction of the MDC after several splits and infiltration by Zanu PF surrogates.
Led by the charismatic Nelson Chamisa, CCC has vowed to dislodge Zanu PF from its long-term firm grip on power.
Zanu PF had already gathered its followers for a star rally held over the weekend in Epworth, a dormitory on the outskirts of Harare.
MDC Alliance led by Douglas Mwonzora had a handful of supporters at the Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield.
Chamisa is expected to turn the same venue into a sea of yellow on Sunday.
Maybe Chamisa will lay out his political ideology over the weekend because as things stand, it seems the only gospel the opposition is preaching is that “Zanu PF must go”.
During the late MDC founding leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s days, it was a “Mugabe must go” mantra.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Tsvangirai demanded change.
So is Chamisa.
But after the change, what should the citizens expect from a supposedly Chamisa administration.
Citizens need to be educated more on the ideological thrust of CCC.
Otherwise, there is a risk of another personality cult around Chamisa just like the Tsvangirai days.
And while the yellow euphoria has gripped many, political power tussles have since emerged in CCC, as we report elsewhere in this edition of our publication.
The internecine intra-party squabbles in the echelons of CCC leadership resulted in double fielding of candidates in some council wards in Masvingo and Bulawayo.
This scenario is likely to give a competitive advantage to Zanu PF – an equally divided party which is facing serious internal fights.
In previous elections, there were cases of opposition party candidates vying for the same parliamentary or council seats.
Zanu PF won in such constituencies.
For the forthcoming by-election, CCC senior members Welshman Ncube and Lynnette Karenyi-Kore were tasked to oversee party candidates’ selection in Bulawayo and Masvingo respectively.
However, other top CCC officials Charlton Hwende and Job Sikhala also reportedly signed nomination papers for some wards in the two aforesaid provinces.
This created double candidates and the issue is still unresolved.
Opposition politicians in CCC are no political neophytes as they have battled Zanu PF from 2000.
The intra-party divisions have previously cost the then MDC.
This is likely to continue in the by-elections and in 2023 if the party is not united.
Zanu PF will use any means to remain in power but it is up to the main opposition to create enough stamina to unseat the former revolutionary movement.
