Staff reporter

Journalist and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activist, Hopewell Chin’ono has been visiting Madzibaba Sydney Mabhiza of the St John Apostolic Church of the Whole World in Borrowdale seeking prophetic advice, guidance and prayers in a bid to enhance his chances of being selected as the CCC national spokesperson a post that is currently being held on interim basis by Fadzayi Mahere.

A source who spoke to this publication said that Chin’ono was desperate for the spokesperson’s position and was leaving no stone unturned to get that influential position.

The source added that the outspoken activist felt that Mahere, a lawyer by profession, does not have the qualities to contest against ZANU PF’s spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa and MDC T’s Witness Dube.

“Chin’ono has been visiting Madzibaba Mabhiza from the time he was still staying in Dawn View in Ruwa. He feels that as an award winning and experienced journalist and a prominent CCC activist, he should be rewarded with the prestigious position of national spokesperson. Chin’ono feels that Mahere is a lightweight when it comes to communication, hence she can’t be a match to Mutsvangwa, Dube and Tafadzwa Mugwadi,” said the source.

The source added that it was unfortunate that Chin’ono was making frantic efforts to endear himself with Chamisa but it seems that Chamisa has a soft spot for Mahere whom he wants to retain as national spokesperson.

According to the source, Chin’ono has a natural dislike for Mahere whom he labels a ZANU PF sympathiser because of her father who was once a ZANU PF Stewart. The source said that in 2018, Mahere contested in Mt Pleasant as an independent candidate and Chin’ono opposed her vigorously labelling her a ZANU PF sponsored project.

“Mahere and Chin’ono have not been seeing eye to eye for some time now. Chin’ono feels that Mahere is a ZANU PF sympathiser. Chin’ono always says that Mahere, as a beneficiary of the ruling Government’s educational grants, is bound to have a soft spot for the ruling Party. To Chin’ono, Mahere is a political lightweight who should not occupy the powerful position of party spokesperson,” added the source.

The same source further said that Chin’ono was irked by Mahere’s machinations to become the next CCC vice president despite her dismal performance as spokesperson. Chin’ono has vowed to vigorously oppose Mahere until she was reduced to a mere card carrying member.

Meanwhile, this publication has established that Chin’ono was being backed by the US Embassy to land the spokesperson’s position. The idea is to later use Chin’ono’s social media influence to organise protests against the Government. However, reports are saying that Chamisa is fully aware that Chin’ono is a US Government project and would not offer him any position within that party as he might stage a palace coup against him.