Staff Reporter
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) is on the verge of collapse following disagreements on who should take over the leadership reigns from Rashid Mahiya whose term of office has since expired.
A source close to the developments told this publication that sharp divisions had emerged within CiZC and these are threatening the survival of the organisation as some members are now contemplating creating a splinter organisation.
“All is not well within CiZC. The jostling for the chairmanship position has become so intense and members have resorted to smear campaigns. The tension is further escalated by the MDC Alliance Chamisa’s faction which is pushing for former Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) boss, Peter Mutasa, to take over the chairmanship of CiZC against the wish of majority members who are in support of Samuel Wadzai Mangoma,” said the source.
Mangoma is the executive director for Vendors Initiative for Social and Economic Transformation (VISET).
The source added that some of the affiliate members held a clandestine meeting last week where they resolved to pull out of the CiZC and form a splinter group that cannot be controlled by the MDC Alliance.
The same source added that the factional fights within CiZC had prompted the current chairperson, Mahiya to skip the border to South Africa as members opposed to him are accusing him of embezzling over US$2,5 million that was donated by some international donor agencies.
“Mahiya is believed to be supporting Mutasa and members from the Wadzai Mangoma camp are threatening to sue him for embezzling of over US$2.5 million donated by some international donors. Mahiya is accused of channelling some of the funds to the MDC Alliance without authorization from affiliate members. Mahiya got wind of his impending arrest and has since fled to South Africa to avoid arrest and possible prosecution,” said the source.
According to the source, the CiZC elections will not happen without Mahiya as he should chair the meeting as per CiZC constitution.
Efforts to elect new CiZC leaders were rattled last week when thugs suspected to be aligned to Mahiya thronged the venue of the meeting in Bulawayo and disrupted the proceedings.
