Political Reporter
There is intense jostling for parliamentary slots within Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) ahead of the 2023 plebiscite with Nelson Chamisa being accused of pitting the Johnny-come-lately against senior party members.
A source who spoke to this publication said that Chamisa was being inundated by calls from sitting CCC legislators who wanted him to give them another chance in the forthcoming elections. However, Chamisa is reportedly plotting to dump a large number of sitting CCC legislators as they defied his order not to take the US$40 000 loans from Parliament.
“There is a lot of uncertainty within the party as far as this year’s parliamentary candidates’ selection is concerned. There is a rumour that Chamisa is plotting to endorse his loyalists to challenge the sitting legislators. Chamisa was not happy with how the legislators defied his order not to take the US$40 000 loans from Parliament and he wants to punish the rebellious members by not endorsing their candidatures,” said the source.
The same source added that the likes of Gift Ostallos Siziba, Takudzwa Ngadziore and University of Zimbabwe lecturer, Dr Pedzisayi Ruhanya, were some of the people who were going to be given a chance to represent CCC in the forthcoming elections.
“Chamisa wants Siziba to replace Tendai Biti in Harare East, Ngadziore to replace Charlton Hwende in Kuwadzana and Dr Ruhanya to replace Goodrich Chimbaira in Zengeza East. Chamisa no longer has trust in the old guard that is why he is lining up his blue-eyed boys to take over the said constituencies,” said the source.
However, the source warned Chamisa not carry out his plans to dump the senior members of that party, as it would cause disgruntlements and intense factional fights. The source added that CCC risks performing badly in the coming elections if the issue of candidate selection was not resolved quickly and amicably.
Meanwhile, in a statement yesterday, CCC interim deputy national spokesperson, Siziba said that Chamisa will not interfere with the candidates’ selection process as it was the duty of the grassroots members to choose candidates who would represent them well in Parliament.
