Political Reporter

Former Harare Mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, has expressed his discontent with his party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), threatening to take unspecified measures in response to that party's internal voting process.

According to a well-placed source, the incident unfolded after CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa reportedly influenced his party councillors not to support Mafume’s reinstatement as mayor.

The Harare City Council's recent mayoral election saw an atmosphere thick with tension at the Town House as Councillor Lovejoy Chitengu was elected to the post, succeeding Ian Makone, who had been recalled by CCC Secretary General, Sengezo Tshabangu.

The election process was described as disorderly with reports of chaos and near-physical confrontations among the councillors.

A source close to the situation revealed, "The election of Chitengu has deeply upset Mafume who had hoped to return to his former position. His reaction was one of disbelief and frustration."

In the aftermath, Mafume reportedly reached out to his friend Kucaca Phulu, a senior CCC member and a lawyer from Bulawayo, to express his concerns about the CCC’s political trajectory.

The source quoted Mafume telling Phulu, "This isn't the direction we should be heading. Service delivery has taken a back seat to a politics of patronage under Chamisa's leadership."

The conversation between Mafume and Phulu reportedly touched on the qualifications of the new mayor, with Mafume noting, "How can our councillors be strong-armed into electing a recalled councillor with limited education? This doesn't bode well for the City."

The source added that Mafume showed high hopes that Chitengu would be recalled soon by Tshabangu after he escaped the recall on technicalities.

In an exchange described by the source, Phulu cast doubt on Chamisa’s leadership capabilities, mockingly referring to him as a "political toddler," lacking the muscle to lead the opposition movement effectively.

The same source added that the ongoing factional disputes within CCC were exacerbating the internal strife, leading to increasing animosity among party members.

"The factional fights are becoming more pronounced, creating a divide that is threatening the party's unity," the source added.

Meanwhile, as the Citizens Coalition for Change grapples with these internal challenges, the future of its leadership and the cohesion of its ranks hang in the balance.