Political Reporter
Fears among the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members continue to rise over their leader’s growing autocratic tendencies, The Harare Post can report.
A source who spoke to this publication reasoned that Nelson Chamisa’s intolerance to dissenting voices mirrors the type of government that he will have if he gets into power.
According to the source, Chamisa’s worrying dictatorial behaviour was recently exhibited at a CCC meeting with by-elections candidates for Harare constituencies. Chamisa reportedly lashed at CCC Epworth by-election candidate, Eathrage Kureva, after he queried why the CCC leader snubbed a scheduled rally in Epworth opting to attend an unauthorised rally in Marondera.
“Recently Chamisa had a meeting with all CCC parliamentary candidates. During that meeting, Kureva asked Chamisa why he had snubbed the rally that was planned for Epworth on the 12th of March 2022 opting to go to Marondera. Kureva told Chamisa that they had already printed some fliers and posters, and had mobilised people to attend the rally,” said the source.
The source said that Kureva was shocked when Chamisa, instead of responding politely and maturely, lashed out at him and labelled him an uncultured member who should be arraigned before a disciplinary hearing.
“Chamisa was furious with Kureva whom he accused of being big headed. He plainly told Kureva that he was a nonentity in the party, hence he should not question his decisions. Chamisa said he was the only leader in the party and he solely decides what to do and when to do it without being directed by people like Kureva. Chamisa immediately called for displinary measures to be taken against Kureva for challenging his authority,” said the source.
According to the source, Chamisa snubbed the scheduled Epworth rally since his intelligence officers had hinted at a low turn-out. The CCC leader feared that the low turn-out would have embarrassed him considering that President Mnangagwa had previously held a successful rally in the same constituency that had a bumper crowd.
The same source added that Chamisa was now viewed by his lieutenants as Zimbabwe’s version of Idi Amin. Some within the newly formed party are now tagging him as a ‘tin pot dictator’ because of his autocratic tendencies.
Chamisa dissolved all structures inherited from the MDC Alliance and told his party that he was the only one with a position. He also announced that he will be the only one to sign nominations papers for 2023 elections candidates, ostensibly to curb factionalism. Nobody is allowed to speak at rallies. All these actions continue to irk his lieutenants who are now convinced that they have a dictator in the making.
Efforts to get a comment from Kureva were futile as he was not answering his mobile phones.
