Political Reporter
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members are blaming Nelson Chamisa for the humiliating defeat that party suffered in the just ended by-elections in Gokwe-Kabuyani constituency.
A CCC insider who spoke to this publication said that the majority of CCC members were saying that the candidate selection for the Gokwe-Kabuyani by-elections was shrouded in secrecy as members were not given a chance to choose their preferred candidate.
“Members are pointing fingers at Chamisa for the defeat we suffered in Gokwe-Kabuyani constituency. The CCC candidate in the by-elections, Costin Muguti was not the popular candidate but he was handpicked by Chamisa to represent the party against the wishes of the grassroots supporters,” said the source.
According to the source, the people of Gokwe-Kabuyani were fed up with Muguti as he once failed to perform to expectation during his days as the legislator for the constituency between 2008 and 2013.
The source added that it was known prior to the elections that Muguti was going to be defeated by ZANU PF because in 2008, he narrowly won in that constituency by 7 234 votes against 7 156 by ZANU PF candidate, the now late Leonard Chikomba.
The same source said that Chamisa should have done thorough background check on Muguti before endorsing him. He added that Muguti was a known thug who was once arrested in 2011 for political violence.
“If a thorough background check was conducted on Muguti, I don’t think he was going to be endorsed as the party’s candidate for the by-elections. Muguti’s support base in Gokwe is thin because he is known as a thug, a reckless driver and a womaniser. People were also saying they couldn’t entrust their votes with a frail looking candidate. That’s why the party was heavily defeated in the Gokwe-Kabuyani by-elections because it fielded a weak candidate,” added the source.
According to the source, CCC members in Gokwe-Kabuyani preferred David Siamponda, who once contested in that constituency under the MDC –Alliance banner in 2018, to represent that party in the just ended by-elections. However, Siamponda could not be endorsed as ihe had reportedly fallen out of favour with Chamisa despite him commanding a huge following in Gokwe.
Meanwhile, ZANU PF candidate for the Gokwe-Kabuyani by-elections, Spencer Tshuma, was declared the winner last week after polling 10 777 votes against CCC’s Muguti, who got 4 800 votes.
