Political Reporter

Self-exiled former Cabinet Minister, Professor Jonathan Moyo, has lambasted former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) bigwig, Tendai Biti, for his decision to take a sabbatical from politics, accusing him of fleeing from his leadership responsibilities.

This criticism follows a series of departures from the CCC, which have stirred controversy within Zimbabwean political circles.

Professor Moyo’s critique came through a series of pointed tweets in which he compared Biti to other former leaders of the CCC who have recently stepped back from their roles.

"Tendai Biti is cut from the same cloth. Only some 60 or so days after he boldly declared that he was CCC Vice President elected by that party’s congress and that he was 'going nowhere', now he says he is actually going somewhere after all; by taking 'time out'; taking a ‘sabbatical' to go to Washington DC, of all places," Professor Moyo stated.

Professor Moyo further emphasised the timing of Biti’s departure, coinciding with when he was due to assume a more significant leadership role within the party.

"And he is saying this at a time when he is in fact due to take over something he accepted to do when he knew at that time that he was due to go to the US by this fall as CCC acting president under the ‘rotational’ arrangement they agreed to as the ‘leadership collective’ under the ‘Gweru Resolutions’," Professor Moyo added.

Professor Moyo continued with his critique by asserting, "Effectively, like Chamisa, Mahere, and Markham, Biti is bolting out. He is running away from leadership responsibility. This makes sense of their mantra that they ‘need new leaders’!"

Amid these upheavals, political commentator Calvin Chitsunge offered a grim view of the opposition’s future.

"The truth is that the opposition is now dead, and it was killed by its members who were power-hungry and lacked a coherent strategy to lead the opposition movement," Chitsunge remarked.

Chitsunge suggested that these internal conflicts and leadership voids have significantly undermined the opposition's ability to challenge the ruling Party effectively.

Meanwhile, the series of resignations and sabbaticals among prominent opposition figures like Chamisa, Mahere, Markham, and now Biti raise questions about the stability and direction of the CCC.

As key members step away, the opposition faces challenges in maintaining unity and momentum, critical factors as it seeks to reinvigorate its base and strategize for future political engagements in Zimbabwe.