Political Reporter

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary general, Charlton Hwende, is reportedly fomenting factionalism within that party plotting to impose his clique as 2023 election candidates.

A source who spoke to this publication said that Hwende and other members of his Maruva cabal had lined up a list of candidates they wished to contest elections on behalf of CCC. This is despite the directive given by Nelson Chamisa that he will personally sign nomination forms for all CCC candidates.

According to the source, Hwende, who used to be Chamisa’s benefactor, has been absconding CCC rallies opting to spend more time in the rural communities interacting with grassroots supporters.

“Hwende is lining up his allies to represent the party in the local government and House of Assembly elections. Hwende has been using the party’s programme, Mugwazo to endear himself with the grassroots supporters. It’s likely that CCC will face the problem of fielding double candidates in the next polls due to the rift that exists between Hwende and Chamisa,” said the source.

The source said that Hwende was lining up one Mutsa Murombedzi to contest in Mhondoro-Mubaira constituency despite that she comes from Chegutu East constituency.

According to the source, Chamisa’s sympathisers are not happy with Hwende’s actions to a point of threatening voter apathy toward any CCC candidate that has the blessing of Hwende.

 Meanwhile, there are reports that Chamisa is fed up with Hwende’s rebellious behaviour and is plotting to exclude him from the new CCC national executive structure to be announced soon.

Recently, Chamisa sparked a Twitter war after questioning the reference of Hwende as CCC secretary general, insisting that party does not have such a position. Chamisa, insisted that “we have no such titles in the citizens’ movement, we are all change champions.”