Innocent Mujeri
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa was barred by his lieutenants from attending the 42nd Independence Day Celebrations in Bulawayo despite him having travelled to Bulawayo for the occasion.
A source who spoke to this publication said that Chamisa travelled to Bulawayo on the eve of the Independence Day and booked at Rainbow Towers hotel. However, that night Chamisa didn’t sleep with some senior members of his party compelling him not to attend the event as that would sanitise the ‘legitimacy of President Mnangagwa’.
“Chamisa travelled to Bulawayo on 17 April 2022 and he was booked at the Rainbow Towers hotel. He had the intention of attending the 42nd Independence Celebrations at Barbourfields Stadium. However, he was barred from attending by some senior CCC members arguing that his presence will legitimise President Mnangagwa’s presidency,” said the source.
The source added that Chamisa reasoned that the Independence Day celebrations were a national event and that he had to attend. However, he decided not to attend after his lieutenants lied to him that there was a plot to humiliate him at Barbourfields.
According to the source, Chamisa was also incensed after learning that the duo of Helen Ziviri and Swirthern Chiroodza went against his directive that CCC members should attend the celebrations by urging people to boycott the event.
“Chamisa was irked after learning that Chiroodza and Ziviri went against his directive that CCC members should attend the Independence Day celebrations. Ziviri and Chiroodza reportedly urged CCC structures to boycott the celebrations. Chamisa has since directed the national chairperson Thabitha Khumalo to institute a displinary hearing against the duo,” added the source.
Meanwhile, Chamisa later sent the CCC secretary general Charlton Hwende to represent him at the celebrations that were also attended by other opposition leaders such as Linda Masarira and Lovemore Madhuku.
