Gloves are off in CCC cockpit

Oscar J Jeke

Factional clashes within the Citizens Coalition for Change-led by Nelson Chamisa are continuing given the wars, especially between members of the party’s inner circle, that have erupted on social media.

This comes as Chamisa openly accused Professor Welshman Ncube and former Finance minister Tendai Biti of siding with Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-proclaimed party interim secretary-general, who has recalled dozens of CCC MPs, councillors and senators.

It also comes as Prof Ncube and Biti were recently removed from the party’s Whatsapp group.

In a thread, Ncube posted to trolls he says are people sent by the “Emperor”: “U don’t dictate 2 me how I answer any question I choose to answer. But I will answer your question even though I believe that you are a team member of the trolls set up by the Emperor to push others out of the party.”

The term emperor is clearly a covert reference to Chamisa. Emperors rule over empires and often times are authoritarian.

Former Higher and Tertiary Education Minister Jonathan Moyo, who is currently living in exile, also waded into the Emperor debate giving clarity on Chamisa’s leadership style with tendencies of an Emperor, noting that he has centralised power around himself with no constitution or structures in the party.

“The Emperor has trolls but no clothes, no structures, no constitutionalism, no history, no ideology, no values, no policies, no ideas, no office bearers, no collective leadership,” Professor Moyo posted.

Moyo also added that loyal trolls support the Emperor who has produced a three-page emperor centred constitution as the alpha and omega of the empire, thus their arguments brought forth coincide with Professor Ncube who expressed disgruntlement over being told how to answers questions.

In an X post, Kuwadzana Esat legislator Chalton Hwende encouraged dialogue in the CCC cockpit – Chamisa, Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube and the incarcerated Job Sikhala.

“President Chamisa is the best foot forward to remove Zanu PF. Anyone who thinks otherwise is making a mistake. He represents the millions who have a national grievance with Zanu PF. He needs a conversation with Hon Biti, Hon Job Sikhala and Hon Ncube. They must work together and jointly must broaden their alliance to include key opposition and civic society leaders. We need a broad based democratic movement behind Nelson Chamisa to win against Zanu,” Hwende wrote.

Another top official, David Coltart, who is currently Bulawayo mayor, tried to cool the situation by encouraging his “friends” to come together as they have contributed much to a free and democratic Zimbabwe.

“… it is disheartening, to say the least, witnessing the debate swirling around my friends Nelson Chamisa, Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube. Each one of these fine men is a trusted frnd who has shown over decades his individual commitment to a free and democratic Zimbabwe.”