Staff Reporter
Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa, who finds himself embattled in a quest for political relevance, has reportedly engaged with the little-known Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters Alliance (ZEEFA) to advocate for some national political dialogue.
A source within ZEEFA who confided in this publication said that in a bid to amplify his voice and garner support for dialogue, the estranged Chamisa had enlisted the ZEEFA leadership to utilise various media platforms to advocate for political players to engage in dialogue.
“Chamisa’s motivation for a political dialogue stem from a fear of being forgotten politically, prompting him to seek inclusion in the Government or maintain relevance through political dialogue,” said the source.
Political analyst, Calvin Chitsunge, has shed light on the apparent desperation driving Chamisa's actions.
Chitsunge emphasised that if Chamisa genuinely seeks national political dialogue, he should consider joining the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) platform, where discussions with President Mnangagwa and other political players take place.
Chitsunge suggested that, "Chamisa should come and join POLAD if he wants to engage in a meaningful dialogue with other political stakeholders."
According to Chitsunge, Chamisa's alleged push for dialogue underscores his desperation to remain politically relevant.
“Chamisa's push for dialogue signals a desperate attempt to salvage his political standing and remain relevant in Zimbabwe's ever-changing political landscape,” added Chitsunge.
Another political analyst, Edith Mushore, said that Chamisa's purported engagement with ZEEFA for a national political dialogue reflects the complexities of Zimbabwean opposition politics, where individual ambitions often intersect with broader national interests.
“While dialogue is essential for addressing some political challenges, Chamisa's motives raise questions about the sincerity of his intentions and the extent to which he prioritises personal political survival over genuine national reconciliation,” said Mushore. Mushore also added that Chamisa`s dictatorial tendencies were an albatross to any meaningful engagement that he may pursue.
Efforts to get a comment from Chamisa were futile as his mobile phones went unanswered.
However, whether his efforts would lead to meaningful dialogue or merely serve as a political manoeuvre remains to be seen, but one thing that is certain is that his quest for relevance reflects the retrogressive and ever-shifting landscape of Zimbabwe’s opposition politics.
