Political Reporter

Following an outcry by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) female members that the candidate selection process was insensitive to gender, that party resolved to appoint some women to represent it in some selected constituencies.

A source who spoke to this publication said that CCC interim organising secretary, Amos Chibaya directed that party’s interim provincial chairpersons to identify women who would be appointed to contest on behalf of that party in some selected constituencies.

The source added that Chibaya directed that only loyal female members whose support for Nelson Chamisa was unquestionable, were to be considered for automatic entry.

“The party has set aside some constituencies for the female members. This was done to pacify the female members who were complaining that the candidate selection process was insensitive to gender. Chibaya said that academic qualifications were not a pre-requisite when scouting for the said female candidates,” said the source.

The source added that constituencies that were set aside for female candidates include Zvishavane, Mt Pleasant, Bindura North, and Sunningdale, among others.

According to the source, Chibaya directed that one Mai Malunga should be given a chance to represent that party in Zvishavane.

“Mai Malunga was promised that she will represent the party in Zvishavane. She was chosen because of her loyalty to the president (Nelson Chamisa). She is also a long benefactor of Chamisa and this gave her the chance to be the party’s candidate in Zvishavane,” added the source.

The CCC candidate selection process that started last month is yet to be finalised with members increasingly getting frustrated by the delay. Some aspiring candidates are reportedly contemplating contesting elections as independent candidates because they had lost trust in that party’s candidate selection process.