The source, who is close to CCC interim Deputy President, Tendai Biti, disclosed that during a recent meeting, the former Harare East legislator expressed his bitterness towards CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa, for imposing candidates during the party's Candidate Selection Process (CSP).
"Biti is still grappling with the aftermath of Chamisa's decision to impose candidates. It created a rift that continues to strain their relationship. Biti made it clear that he is still at odds with Nelson Chamisa over the candidate selection issue. He believes that Chamisa's unilateral decisions during the CSP have caused internal strife within the party, "the source revealed.
Chamisa elbowed Biti out of the Harare East constituency and replaced him with Allan Markham of Harare North as a way of frustrating him out of the party.
The source further revealed that Biti squarely blamed Chamisa for the recent recalls orchestrated by the party’s interim Secretary General, Sengezo Tshabangu. According to Biti, Chamisa's dictatorial tendencies, which manifested in his desire to control every aspect of the party, were responsible for the recalls that have plagued the CCC.
"Biti pointed fingers at Chamisa, stating that if the candidate selection process had been conducted democratically without any imposition, the party wouldn't be facing these recalls orchestrated by Tshabangu," the source added.
Furthermore, the source revealed that Biti attributed the ongoing recalls initiated by Tshabangu, to Chamisa's dictatorial tendencies.
“Biti believes that if Chamisa had not insisted on controlling every aspect of the party, including candidate selection, they wouldn't be facing these recalls which, he admitted, as the consequence of centralised power," relented the source.
Meanwhile, interestingly, according to the same source, despite Biti's apparent dissatisfaction with Chamisa, he distanced himself from Tshabangu, the individual spearheading the recalls.
Political analysts, however, remain sceptical about Biti's disassociation from Tshabangu. They argue that Tshabangu's actions seem to serve Biti's interests, and while the rift between Chamisa and Biti has been long-standing, the true nature of Biti's relationship with Tshabangu remains uncertain.
The rift between Biti and Chamisa stems from the latter’s ambition to lead the opposition outfit. Biti is believed to be leading the anti-Chamisa cabal, the Sesedza faction, which, prior to the August polls, was named the Maruva cabal. Chamisa’s sidelining of Biti ahead of the election has seen the Sesedza cabal planning to unseat him, in the aftermath of a sound electoral clobbering by ZANU PF’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
