CCC accepts Nelson Chamisa resignation

Zim Now Writer

The Citizens Coalition for Change has accepted the resignation of party leader Nelson Chamisa and directed that the National Standing Committee of the party will spearhead the process of restoring democracy and democratic processes and practices in the party.

The decision was taken following a meeting, chaired by Professor Welshman Ncube yesterday, which also accepted the resignations of Amos Chibaya, Fadzayi Mahere and Gift Ostallos Siziba.

“The resignation of Advocate Nelson Chamisa as president of the party is, with regret, accepted. The resignations of Amos Chibaya, Advocate Fadzayi Mahere and Gift Ostallos Siziba, who were all members of the National Standing Committee, as well as Ms Monica Mkwada and Ms Stabile Mlilo are accepted,” a statement released after the meeting reads, in part.

This happened as another faction of the CCC also met and resolved that Jameson Timba will lead a committee tasked with engaging Chamisa over his unexpected resignation. The meeting of what they called the Citizens National Assembly also expressed concern that Chamisa had not consulted anybody and they only learnt of his resignation on X.

The two meetings add to the confusion in the CCC, relating to various statements claiming leadership changes in the opposition party, including that of spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi, who had declared himself new party leader.

On the other hand, the Ncube-chaired meeting resolved to protect all its deployees in the National Assembly and local authorities saying they must continue discharging their duties as expected.

“The party in government should, with deliberate intent, be protected. Party representatives in Parliament and Local governments should be protected, given political direction and urged to continue discharging their responsibilities in Parliament as well as local authorities.

“In particular, in view of the cholera problem ravaging the country, all deployees in local authorities under the control of our party urged to apply themselves fully and redouble efforts to contain the cholera pandemic,” the statement further reads.

The meeting also noted that it is bent on returning the CCC to legitimacy.

“It is important that the party continues to reaffirm resolutions already adopted in general, and specifically that the party should return to legitimacy. This means al legitimate party structures as at the Gweru congress of May 2019, and which were in place up to and including the 24th January 2022 when the National Standing Committee announced the rebranding of the party to CCC, that is, from branch to national council are recognized. These structures should carry out their respective responsibilities,” the statements adds.

The Standing Committee is expected to hold another meeting today.

Meanwhile, it is still to be seen whether more MPs will resign in solidarity with Chamisa or will heed Ncube's call to remain in their postings.