Staff Reporter
A row has erupted on X as growing rifts continue to escalate in the pilot-less Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) opposition party. The conflict centres around accusations and suspicions from party leader, Nelson Chamisa’s faction members alleging that former Youth Assembly leader Obey Sithole is aligned to the Sengezo Tshabangu faction, infamous for its series of recalls of legislators and councillors, the Harare Post can reveal.
On his X handle, @TereraiSithole, charged that his account has been blocked from the party’s main X handle by a CCC member who is abusing his proximity to the embattled leader. Speculation has pointed fingers at Deputy party Spokesperson, Gift Ostallos Siziba.
According to a well-placed source within the party, Sithole was blocked following rumours that he is associated with the Tshabangu faction. This Twitter handle is said to be managed by Siziba, a known Chamisa loyalist and bootlicker.
Sithole posted on his handle that there is a witch-hunt targeting him. He however stressed that he will continue to march forward in his political career.
“A certain insecure coward hiding behind our party handle took cowardice to another level and settled at blocking me. We certainly have fake democrats in our midst who think that they can abuse their proximity to our President to push others through lies. I remain resolute,” he said.
A source interviewed by this publication said that Sithole was blocked following rumours that he is associated with Tshabangu.
"This extends beyond a mere disagreement, signifying evident fractures and ingrained mistrust within the party. These actions are fostering an environment of suspicion and division, adding another layer of complexity to the party's woes.
"The blocking of Sithole’s X account by Siziba is a backlash step towards violating freedom of speech as a democratic principle within CCC. Chamisa's past leadership has been marred by dictatorial tendencies, and the party needed a fresh approach. On the contrary, Tshabangu and Biti seem committed to steering CCC in a direction that fosters democracy, transparency, and constitutionalism,” underscored the source.
Meanwhile, political analyst Terence Chipwanya, speaking to this publication weighed in on the Sithole-Siziba acrimony, commending their X fight as an internal feud of two factions jostling for control of the opposition.
Chipwanya highlighted that Nelson Chamisa's purported dictatorial tendencies had crippled the party, and the move by Ostallos to curtail freedom of expression on the party members, is an indication that Chamisa has lost his grip as the CCC leader to Sengezo Tshabangu.
