Political Reporter
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa has reportedly lost confidence in Bulawayo Central legislator, Nicola Brown and is now positioning Gift Ostallos Siziba to take over that constituency in the forthcoming elections.
A source who spoke to this publication said that Brown was once Chamisa’s close lieutenant but they have since parted ways following a rumour that she was now in Welshman Ncube’s faction.
The source added that Chamisa was plotting to punish Brown by endorsing the candidature of Siziba to represent CCC in Bulawayo Central constituency.
“Brown was once Chamisa’s close ally. However, she crossed the floor to join Ncube’s camp. Chamisa was irked by that and is now contemplating endorsing Siziba to contest in Bulawayo Central instead of Brown,” said the source.
The source added that Siziba was spending much time in Bulawayo in an effort to endear himself with that party’s structures. The source said that Siziba was telling people that there was no place for white people in Bulawayo as that Province should be politically dominated by the Ndebele speaking people.
According to the source, Chamisa has assured Siziba that he would be assisted with resources to support his campaign in Bulawayo Central.
The same source added that despite Chamisa backing Siziba for the Bulawayo Central constituency, the Ncube faction was making frantic efforts to ensure that Brown retains that seat.
“The Ncube faction is against Siziba’s candidature in Bulawayo Central constituency. They are on the ground mobilising for Brown to retain her seat. It’s going to be a bruising battle as Brown and Siziba are only being used as political pawns in the battle between Chamisa and Ncube,” said the source.
Meanwhile, there are reports that some CCC aspiring candidates were not in agreement with the contents of Chamisa’s document, ‘Citizens And Community Consensus Candidate Selection Procedures’ which bars those with little education to represent that party in the coming elections.
Recently, Chamisa directed that CCC parliamentary candidates should be able to read and interpret legislation and national policies, while council candidates must have the ability to read and interpret council legislation, administrative by-laws, and policies.
