Political Reporter

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa was left with egg on his face after some candidates defied his directive to withdraw their candidatures ahead of the by-elections slatted for 26 March this year.

A source within the CCC told this publication that the issue of double fielding of candidates irked Chamisa who has directed that candidates not endorsed by him should withdraw their candidature and support their fellow party candidates.

The source said that Chamisa directed his blue eyed Director in the Organising Department, Farai Chinyoka, to engage candidates who were not endorsed by Chamisa to pave way for that party’s preferred candidates. However, the targeted candidates made it clear to Chinyoka that Chamisa has no right to tell them to withdraw as their nomination papers were signed by senior members of CCC, an indication that they were also endorsed by that party.

“Chinyoka was sent by Chamisa to engage some candidates to convince them to withdraw their candidatures so as to avoid the issue of double fielding of candidates. However, the targeted candidates refused to withdraw as they have the grassroots support and the backing of some CCC senior members. Chamisa is now in a dilemma not knowing what to do with the situation,” said the source.

In Bulawayo, Chamisa wanted Mpumelelo Moyo to withdraw and pave way for recalled Ward 26 councillor Norman Hlabani. The same source said initially Moyo agreed to withdraw, however he was pressurised by his faction’s godfather Welshman Ncube who told him that he should stand his ground and not withdraw his candidature.

Again in Bulawayo, Chamisa wanted his preferred candidate Donaldson Mabutho to represent CCC and they failed to convince Bekithemba Nyathi to withdraw his candidature.

The source said that Chamisa also faced the same headache in Masvingo where Thokozile Muchuchuti refused to withdraw her candidature in favour of Aleck Tabe. Muchuchuti is believed to have told Chinyoka that people in Harare had no mandate interfering with that party’s electoral processes in Masvingo. She also castigated Chamisa for favouring male candidates, while treating women as less important.

Efforts to get a comment from CCC secretary for elections, Ian Makone were futile as his mobile phones were not reachable.