… as they have lost faith in Chamisa

Staff Reporter

Amidst talks of a leadership change within the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, reports suggest that the West is eyeing incarcerated Job Sikhala as a potential successor to Nelson Chamisa, positioning him as the new face of the opposition in the upcoming 2028 elections.

This pursuit comes as a response to growing concerns that Chamisa may no longer be the ideal figurehead, particularly after being outwitted by his party’s interim Secretary General, Sengezo Tshabangu.

According to a source close to the matter, Sikhala’s name was increasingly echoing in the corridors of the western embassies as a potential replacement for embattled Chamisa.

"The West is desperate to find a new face for the opposition, someone with a history of resistance and charisma. Chamisa hasn't delivered the desired results, and they are actively searching for someone who can galvanize the electorate and present a credible challenge to ZANU-PF. The West now wants Sikhala to be the new face of the opposition come 2028 elections,” revealed the source.

The source highlighted how the West was closely monitoring the success of the Job Sikhala Solidarity Movement to assess the level of support Sikhala commands across the nation.

"The West is closely monitoring the Job Sikhala Solidarity Movement as a gauge of Sikhala's national appeal. This movement, funded by Western interests, is specifically targeting disgruntled CCC members who have lost faith in Chamisa's leadership,” the source disclosed.

Furthermore, the source revealed how Obert Masaraure, the national coordinator of the movement, had been tasked with mobilizing support for Sikhala across the country with a particular focus on disgruntled CCC members disillusioned with Chamisa's leadership.

"Masaraure has been quietly working to assess Sikhala's national appeal. He has appointed cluster coordinators across the country, specifically targeting those who were recalled by Tshabangu and abandoned by Chamisa to contest independently," the source disclosed.

According to the source, these coordinators have met with some success, attracting disenchanted CCC members to the Sikhala camp.

“Cluster coordinators appointed by Masaraure are making inroads, as most CCC members are tired of Chamisa's empty promises. They are looking for someone with grit and determination,” the source remarked.

According to another source, the West is also looking at the option of Tendai Biti replacing Chamisa as the CCC leader.

He revealed that Biti is expected to travel to the United States where he will be attached to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for two years while being groomed to take over from Chamisa.

Meanwhile, Chamisa’s grip on the opposition movement appears to be loosening, and the West, ever eager to see regime change in Zimbabwe, is casting its net far and wide in search of a new face of the opposition.