Political Reporter
Members of the Blue Movement led by Amos Chibaya and Gift Ostalos who are on a nationwide mobilisation exercise to drum up support for former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa got a rude awakening in Gwanda after their “fresh elections” rallying point failed to get a buy-in they desperately need from the citizens.
The Blue Movement has been on a whirlwind tour that has seen them to Mashonaland Central, Manicaland, Bulawayo and Matabeleland North Provinces spreading disinformation message of fresh elections.
Chamisa also took the rare occasion of paying condolences to the late Namibian President, Hage Geingob, at the Namibian Embassy in Harare to announce his futile call for fresh elections.
This comes at a time when the regional bloc, Southern African Community Development (SADC) has long since moved on from Zimbabwe’s 2023 electoral season, with all eyes now set on President Mnangagwa’s assumption of the Chairmanship of the bloc this coming August.
A source within the Blue Movement who attended the Gwanda rally told this publication that citizens were not convinced by the claims by Chibaya and Siziba that Zimbabwe would hold fresh elections.
According to source the call and promises of fresh elections were met with increasing scepticism and questions from the audience.
"It was clear that the crowd, though hopeful, began to doubt the credibility of these assertions," the source said.
“During the meeting, attendees engaged in rigorous dialogue, probing the speakers on critical issues. Questions arose regarding Chamisa's strategic decisions, particularly his departure from political parties amidst internal strife. Doubts were cast on the practicality of conducting new elections, given the regional and international backing of the 2023 electoral outcomes,” said the source.
Political analyst, Calvin Chitsunge provided, legal and political context to the situation, emphasizing that Zimbabwe's Constitution mandates the holding of general elections once every five years, with no provision for a rerun of polls as demanded by the Chamisa faction.
"There is no reason for President Mnangagwa and ZANU PF to give away their win. Zimbabwe, as a sovereign state, cannot be pressured to alter its constitutional framework by external entities,” said Chitsunge.
Echoing Chitsunge's stance, political commentator Edith Mushore underscored the need for transparency within the Chamisa camp.
"The reality is that the only elections foreseeable in the near future would be internal elections within Chamisa's proposed Democratic Alternative in Zimbabwe (DAZ) party, not national elections," Mushore stated.
Despite the Chamisa faction's efforts to galvanise support through nationwide rallies, attendance has been lacklustre.
Internal discord within the opposition ranks has contributed to growing disillusionment among supporters, who are increasingly questioning the credibility of promises made.
