…..as Chamisa is set to punish errant legislators

Staff Reporter

Leader of opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party, Nelson Chamisa is set to heavily punish that party’s legislators who signed to receive the US$40 000 housing loans extended to all parliamentarians by Government.

A source who spoke to this publication said that Chamisa was set to establish a ‘Change Champions Tribunal’ to discipline all errant legislators who received the loans from Government.

The source said that the Tribunal would comprise of senior members close to Chamisa with clear instructions to descend heavily on all legislators who defied Chamisa’s directive not to accept the loans.

“A day of long knives is looming in CCC as Chamisa is set to punish all legislators who signed to receive US$40 000 loans from Government. Next week, Chamisa is expected to announce the members who will form a Tribunal to look at the wayward behaviour of the legislators who defied his directive not to take the loans. Currently, Ostallos Siziba is preparing a statement to be released next week on Chamisa’s position on the errant legislators,” said the source.

According to the source, all legislators who signed to receive loans would have their nomination papers not signed by Chamisa. The source added that Chamisa was already scouting for his loyalists whom he could recommend to represent CCC in the forthcoming elections as he no longer has trust on the current crop of legislators.

The source added that the legislators who received the loans were banking on Tendai Biti’s promise that he would defend them in the event that Chamisa wants to punish them.

The same source further said that all CCC legislators agreed that they would not present themselves before the ‘Change Champions Tribunal’ as there was no constitution or legal framework that compels them to do so.

Furthermore, political analyst Evidence Chinguwo said that Chamisa was exhibiting characters of a dictator and should not interfere with the legislators’ parliamentary benefits.

“Chamisa is turning into a mini Idi Amin. Everything must not be centred on him. He should allow the elected legislators to make decisions that are good to them without fear of a backlash from him,” said Chinguwo.

Chinguwo added that the looming day of long knives was likely going to further widen rifts within CCC as a number of senior members were against Chamisa’s iron fist leadership style.

Meanwhile, the US$40 000 extended to legislators are not freebies but housing loans meant to improve the welfare of legislators.