Political Reporter

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) sent emissaries last week to the United Kingdom (UK) to lobby for more sanctions to be imposed on the country ahead of the 2023 plebiscite.

A source who spoke to this publication confirmed that the CCC sent its interim secretary for International Relations, Gladys Kudzaishe Hlatywayo and its interim deputy national spokesperson, Gift ‘Ostallos’ Siziba to the UK to meet with representatives of the Labour Party where they discussed about next year’s elections.

“Hlatywayo and Siziba were in the UK last week where they lobbied for more sanctions to be imposed on Zimbabwe ahead of the 2023 elections. The duo told representatives of the Labour Party that more sanctions would weaken the ruling ZANU PF party and alienate it from the masses,” said the source.

The source added that Hlatywayo and Siziba begged for financial assistance from the Labour Party to fund their party’s 2023 elections campaigns.

“The duo begged for financial assistance from the Labour Party. They said that their party was financially constrained hence it might fail to match its rival ZANU PF as far as the 2023 elections campaigns were concerned. Hlatywayo and Siziba added that they wanted the Labour Party to assist with strategies on how to win elections,” added the source.

According to the source, representatives from the Labour Party told Hlatywayo and Siziba that they were worried by CCC’s absence of structures and argued that the CCC risks losing next year’s elections. The source added that the Labour Party told Hlatywayo and Siziba that it would be difficult for the CCC to mount an electoral campaign that would be effective to dislodge an organised party like ZANU PF without solid and vibrant party structures.

Meanwhile, Hlatywayo in her Tweet yesterday confirmed that they met representatives from the Labour Party. However, she didn’t give out much detail about the meeting save to thank the Labour Party for its hospitality.