Taurai Masamba
Some Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members in Mutasa North Constituency in Mutasa District have expressed displeasure with their party leader, Nelson Chamisa’s dictatorial tendencies. The CCC members are accusing the opposition political party leader of outlawing internal democracy processes such as an elective congress, a constitution and primary elections.
The issue was raised over the weekend by a constituent, Value Musara who asked members of the Honde Valley People-Facebook group, if anyone knew who was set to contest the Mutasa North constituency seat during forthcoming harmonised general elections on the CCC ticket.
“Ndiri kukumbirawo kuziwa ari kukwikwadzana neZANU PF weCCC kwedu ku Mutasa North,” Musara posted on the group.
His enquiry provided an opportunity for some constituents and members to vent their pent-up disappointment and frustration with Chamisa. Takawira Sanganza bemoaned how Chamisa had suffocated internal democracy in the party.
“There was no primary election in the CCC because democracy in the party is in the cold room. The owner of (the) CCC hasn’t released democracy yet,” Sanganza posted.
Others felt that Chamisa had centralised every party process and decision-making on himself and his inner circle.
“Haasati azivikanwa, nekuti haasati asarudzwa naChamisa,” posted one Seke Mutema.
While some people attempted to defend Chamisa by arguing that releasing candidates’ names early would lead to fights among members of different factions, other group members would have none of it. Another constituent, Cosmas Sanganza blamed Chamisa’s poor leadership for that party’s confusion, which led to it fielding double candidates in some constituencies during the 2018 polls, when it was still the MDC Alliance.
“They are playing games with people and it’s why they end up fielding two candidates,” Sanganza responded.
Some of the group members were so despondent of Chamisa’s poor leadership that they were not ruling out the spectre of not being notified of that party’s candidate until the identity is revealed on the ballot paper on Election Day. They were so frustrated that they vowed to fight Chamisa’s misrule of the party.
“Saka unozviona wava mubox here? Ko kana pasina waunoda? Guys we must FIGHT for a constitution. Besides that we are going nowhere,” posted a frustrated Ryan Dube.
The Mutasa North Constituency was won by ZANU PF’s Chido Mwadiwa during the 30 July 2018 Harmonised General Elections. Last month, ZANU PF won the Mutasa Rural District Council Ward 6 by-election held to replace the late CCC councillor, Edward Kavhuru who passed away in October.Early last year, ZANU PF also wrestled the Mutasa South constituency from the opposition in the by-elections held on 26 March to replace some opposition legislators and councillors who were recalled by the MDC-T, as well as those who passed on.
