Staff Reporter
A survey carried out by Afrobarometer through Mass Public Opinion Institute clearly indicates a sharp decline in Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa’s popularity, while showing an increase in same for President Emmerson Mnangagwa ahead of the 23 August Harmonised General Elections, the Harare post can report.
A Political analyst who is closely aligned to Chamisa, Dr Phillan Zamchiya noted the sharp decrease in Chamisa’s support base, and encouraged that party to pull up its socks or else lose it all.
“Reader, the survey is not rosy for the CCC’s electoral prospects in the general election scheduled from 23 August 2023. “My view is that it is time for the CCC to collectively reflect and put all boots on the ground in order to turn the tide. This is a better approach because even if the survey turns out not to be a true reflection of political dynamics on the ground, the CCC would have increased its margin of victory come 23 August. In short they would have lost nothing.
“The survey signals that 27% of respondents would vote for Chamisa against 35% for Mnangagwa, this means that CCC leader’s support base has decreased by 6% since June 2022.This marks the first decline in Chamisa’s vote since he became leader of the opposition,” said Zamchiya.
Zamchiya further warned Chamisa that if the survey was anything to go by, and he doesn’t do anything about it, there won’t be any other opportunity until the 2028 Harmonised General election.
“An easier and self-soothing approach would be to bury one’s head in the sand and continue with business as usual. This is dangerous because if the survey turns to be a true reflection of political dynamics on the ground, the CCC would have done nothing and lost everything with no room for correction till the 2028 general election,” urged Zmachiya.
Making an analysis of the survey findings, Zamchiya notes that the increase in President Mnangagwa’s support has significantly closed the gap between his vote and that of the parliamentarians.
“Of interest is that Mnangagwa’s vote used to be below that of his party (ZANU PF) but there is now equalisation,” he said.
President Mnangagwa’s overwhelming support has been attributed to his people centred policies that ensure that no one and no place is left behind as the country journeys towards the attainment of an Upper Middle Income Society by 2030.
