Rival factions of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) are locked in fierce battles over the inclusion of former leader Nelson Chamisa, who has rejected their overtures to return to the opposition party.
NewsDay has been reliably told that party members from both factions are threatening and blackmailing each other while names are being dropped as the battle for control of the opposition party intensifies. Others from Chamisa, led by party spokesman Promise Mkwananzi, claim they are getting involved The former leader to lure him back to the reins of the CCC.
Chamisa resigned as CCC president after losing control of the party to Chabangu, who went on a spree to summon party legislators and councillors.
After Chamisa’s resignation, some senior party figures Who were believed to be allied with Chabangu, have since regained their positions in the 2019 MDC structures, with Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube and Lynette Karini Kore as vice-presidents.
Charlton Hwinde was elected General Secretary at the 2019 conference.
Beatty told NRTV last week that he was vice president of the CCC.
Ncube reportedly chaired a meeting of the Chabangu faction, which decided to return to the MDC 2019 structures, while Karenni Kori was appointed leader of the same faction.
In a post on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Hwinde claimed that he spoke to Chamisa for two hours on Tuesday last week about his resignation, adding that the former CCC leader was adamant on not rejoining the opposition party.
“On Tuesday, I had a two-hour conversation with President Nelson Chamisa and we discussed his resignation statement. He is clear that he will never return to CCC and will announce his next move in the near future. I agree with his decision.
“Tomorrow, I will begin a series of consultations with the people of Kwadzana East so that I can guide me on the next step. President Chamisa remains the best we have to bring about change in this country,” Hwinde said.
Repeated efforts to get a comment from Huinde were in vain as he was not picking up calls.
But Mkwananzi denied Hwende’s claims in an interview with NewsDay this week.
“Those who say they are talking to President Chamisa are lying. Hwindi is lying, he never spoke to the president. “They just want to incorporate defender Chamisa to legitimize their alliance with Zanu PF because they fear the masses,” he said.
“As for us, we will defend the gains of the democratic struggle and the face of the democratic struggle, which is Nelson Chamisa.
“He is the legitimate leader of the Zimbabwe Democratic Movement and we will ensure that he remains the leader until we achieve a new great Zimbabwe,” he added.
Marondera Central Party MP Caston Mathieu, who has been appointed deputy spokesperson for the Chabangu-allied CCC, told NewsDay in an interview that engagements with Chamisa are underway.
“We are communicating with President Chamisa so that he can come back and lead us. But we noticed that we cannot go to it all. We have formed a committee headed by the Senator [Jameson] Timba to play the role of mediator.
“We have yet to get a comment from them on what the president is saying. “There are many who are capable of taking over the reins of the CCC, but for now, we believe in Defender Chamisa,” he said.
However, Mateo denied Chabangu’s allegations, adding that he did not know him.
Temba distanced himself from Mateo’s claims.
“I stand by the decision of the National Citizens Assembly, which convened early this (last) week. And any other allegations outside the decisions, whoever raises them must answer your inquiries.”
The National Council of Citizens appointed Temba as Chairman and Chief Director of the 10-member committee to oversee the affairs of the party in the interim period. Newsday
