Political Reporter
Former leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Nelson Chamisa is facing mounting criticism from his former allies and prominent political commentators, who have labelled him as politically inept, hypocritical, and ineffective in his opposition role.
The backlash came as Chamisa struggles to maintain momentum and credibility as an opposition leader.
Prominent Government critic and journalist Hopewell Chin’ono was among the first to voice his discontent, branding Chamisa a "narcissist, useless, and laid back."
Chin’ono accused Chamisa of contributing to the arrests of over 100 opposition supporters, many of whom were detained during the recent Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit for allegedly advancing Chamisa’s cause.
Chin’ono further criticized the CCC’s social media strategy, which he claimed focuses excessively on Chamisa’s public engagements rather than advocating for those languishing in prison.
He argued that Chamisa’s reliance on religious rhetoric, particularly his #GodIsInIt mantra, has done little to advance the opposition’s cause, accusing him of lacking the substance needed to address the so-called “Zimbabwean crisis.”
Adding to the criticism, Professor Ibbo Mandaza, an opposition activist and Chairman of the Southern African Political Economy Series (SAPES) Trust, called for Chamisa to step down from politics.
Mandaza argued that Chamisa’s leadership is systematically demoralizing the opposition’s base and warned that if he does not exit, he risks further exposing his political shortcomings.
President of the LEAD party, Linda Masarira, also weighed in, harshly criticizing the opposition’s inability to mobilize during the SADC summit.
She went as far as to declare that “the opposition was castrated, mutilated, and died a slow, painful death. As it stands, there is no opposition in Zimbabwe!”
Political commentators and analysts have echoed these concerns, suggesting that Chamisa’s leadership has reached a critical juncture.
Political analyst Dr Gilbert Dandahwa noted, “Nelson Chamisa has shown himself to be politically bankrupt, more concerned with maintaining his public image than with building a resilient and united opposition. Under his leadership, the opposition has failed to present a viable alternative to the current Government. It’s time for a new generation of leaders to step forward and challenge the status quo.”
Another commentator, Edith Chabayanzara argued that Chamisa’s approach to opposition politics has alienated many of his former supporters, who now view him as out of touch with the realities on the ground.
“Chamisa’s failure to effectively mobilize the masses, coupled with his inability to secure the release of political prisoners, has led to a loss of confidence in his leadership. The opposition needs a leader who can inspire and unite the people, not one who is more concerned with religious platitudes and self-promotion.”
As the criticism intensifies, Chamisa’s future in Zimbabwean politics remains uncertain.
The growing discontent among his former allies and the broader opposition base suggests that significant changes may be on the horizon.
Whether Chamisa will heed the calls for new leadership and step aside remains to be seen, but the pressure is undoubtedly mounting.
