Political Reporter

The seamless preparations for the next ZANU PF primary elections, which are set for this coming Saturday, have reportedly caused panic among Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members.

According to a source who spoke to this publication, Nelson Chamisa's hesitation to name party representatives for the upcoming plebiscite has worried members since they fear losing to ZANU PF in this year's elections.

The source said that a number of CCC aspiring candidates were complaining to Tendai Biti that their party was not treating this year's elections seriously.

“Aspiring candidates are complaining to Biti   that CCC was not treating the upcoming elections seriously. The members are saying that CCC was unconcerned at the time that ZANU PF was preparing for its primary elections and was simply waiting for Chamisa to announce the candidates. The members are arguing that it was honourable for CCC candidates to be named earlier so they could engage in campaigning and win over voters,” said the source.

 The source added that members were also calling Biti asking him to engage Chamisa on the issue of candidates.

The source claims that CCC members wanted Chamisa to nominate candidates democratically and openly, rather than handpicking his close lieutenants to represent that party. The insider further said that, with time running out, the majority of CCC members wanted Chamisa to divulge his election strategies for this year.

The source added that several members were contemplating running as independent candidates because they were uncertain whether Chamisa would select them to represent CCC in the next elections.

The same source also stated that Biti was seen as a better leader to Chamisa within CCC. He continued by saying that some members were secretly seeing Biti and pleading with him to take charge of the CCC and shield it from Chamisa's autocratic rule.

It was unsuccessful to get a response from interim CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere since her mobile phones were unreachable.