Political Reporter
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa is reportedly excited over the idea of forming a Government of National Unity (GNU) with the ruling ZANU PF and postpone the 2023 elections.
A source who spoke to this publication said that Chamisa recently held a meeting with the Catholic Bishops in Harare where a suggestion of postponing the impending 2023 polls in favour of a GNU was made.
According to the source, Chamisa was receptive to the idea and he later convened a meeting with his lieutenants to brief them on the suggestions by the Catholic Bishops. However, Chamisa misrepresented to his members that it was President Mnangagwa who was pressurising him to form a GNU with him and abandon the 2023 elections.
“Chamisa later held a meeting with his lieutenants and told them that President Mnangagwa has approached him with the idea of forming a GNU with him, although the idea was touted by the Catholic Bishops. Chamisa only lied about President Mnangagwa because he wanted the idea to have a buy in from his lieutenants,” said the source.
According to the source, Chamisa said that it was beneficial for the country to postpone elections for at least two years as that would help in stabilising the political and economic situation in the country.
The source added that Chamisa said that it was better for CCC to be in GNU with ZANU PF as they would take that time to push for electoral reforms from within.
Meanwhile, political commentator Terrence Chipwanya said that Chamisa has realised that the future is bleak for him which is why he is playing around with the idea of having a GNU.
“Chamisa knows that chances of him winning the presidency next year are slim considering the chaos and disorganisation within his party. This is why he is now contemplating on forming a GNU with ZANU PF to save his political career. However, I don’t think ZANU PF would want to get into a GNU with CCC considering that it has the capacity to resoundingly win the 2023 plebiscite and form a government,” said Chipwanya.
Contacted for comment, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said that the issue of a GNU was fake and added that her party has a single focus which is to win the 2023 Harmonised General Elections.
