Political Reporter
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa is set to elevate Harare North legislator, Allan Norman Markham to the position of vice president, an appointment that has been viewed as a payback for his loyalty.
A source who spoke to this publication said that Chamisa was expected to ring changes to the CCC presidium and would demote Tendai Biti to the position of national chairperson while elevating Markham to be one of his deputies.
“Chamisa is expected to announce a new National Executive Committee (NEC) that would be composed of mainly new faces. One person to be elevated to the NEC is Markham who is set to be appointed as a deputy president. Markham is likely to take over from Biti who is to be demoted to the position of national chairperson,” said the source.
The source added that Markham was being rewarded for his loyalty to Chamisa and for refusing to take the US$40 000 loans extended to legislators by Government.
“Markham was the only CCC legislator who refused to take the US$40 000 loans extended to legislators by Government. Chamisa now views Markham as a man of integrity who would not trade principles for personal gains. This is the major reason why Markham is set to be elevated to the position of vice president,” said the source.
The same source added that Chamisa also wants to pacify the white community by appointing one of their own to the vice president position. The source further said that, of late, the relationship between Chamisa and the white community has been dwindling and the appointment of Markham is meant to mend the same relations.
However, a CCC insider who also spoke to this publication said that Markham was a man of double standards as he recently took some forms to Chikurubi Maximum Prison for incarcerated legislator, Job Sikhala to fill so that he could receive his share of the US$40 000 loans.
“Markham is not a principled man but is double faced. Recently he visited Sikhala with some form so that he could sign in order to receive his share of the US$40 000. Markham is that type of a man who indicates right while going left. If he is appointed vice president, then Chamisa would have surrounded himself with a man of double standards,” said the source.
Efforts to get a comment from CCC interim national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere were futile as her mobile phones were not reachable.
