The Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) continues to unravel, with prominent member Freeman Chari becoming the latest figure to part ways with the opposition party, citing disillusionment with Nelson Chamisa’s leadership.
Chari’s departure has triggered heated exchanges within the CCC camp, with staunch Chamisa supporters such as Brighton Mutebuka and Brian Mari lashing out at Chari, while critics of Chamisa, including Hopewell Chin’ono, Professor Jonathan Moyo, and Kuda Musasiwa, have rallied behind him.
According to Chari, CCC’s failure in the 2023 elections was a direct result of Chamisa’s flawed leadership, characterized by “strategic ambiguity” and the sycophancy of his inner circle, who blindly supported his destructive path. Chari asserts that Chamisa’s dismantling of party structures, abandonment of constitutionalism, and alienation of key allies set the stage for the opposition’s defeat.
For years, CCC has pointed fingers at alleged electoral irregularities and scapegoated individuals like Welshman Ncube, Sengezo Tshabangu, and Tendai Biti. However, as Chari and others now highlight, the opposition’s loss was largely self-inflicted.
Observers note that Chamisa’s myopic strategies have left the party in disarray, with factional infighting taking center stage while attempts are made to deflect blame onto ZANU PF. This development is not an isolated occurrence, as several other CCC stalwarts, including Chin’ono, Musasiwa, and Prof Moyo, have previously criticized Chamisa’s leadership.
They argue that Chamisa’s strategic failures have diminished the opposition’s prospects, leaving the party fragmented and unable to mount a cohesive challenge to ZANU PF. The implosion within CCC serves as a stark reminder of the pitfalls of poor leadership and the consequences of dismantling party structures in pursuit of short-term strategies.
The recent elections in Namibia, meanwhile, have provided a contrasting example of how electoral disputes can be resolved peacefully through legal channels. Opposition leaders like McHenry Venaani and Panduleni Itula have chosen to challenge the results in court rather than resorting to violence or incitement. Their approach has been lauded by SADC leaders as a model for addressing grievances within the framework of the law.
In contrast, leaders such as Chamisa and Mozambique’s Venancio Mondlane have been accused of inciting unrest following electoral setbacks, a move that undermines stability and democratic processes.
The Namibian opposition has demonstrated that even in the face of perceived irregularities, peaceful and lawful recourse remains the most effective path forward.
It is a lesson that Chamisa and his allies would do well to heed if they are to rebuild and contribute meaningfully to Zimbabwe’s political future.
