Political Reporter

Members of the opposition in Bulawayo Province, aligned with Nelson Chamisa, have voiced their discontent with Amos Chibaya, a key figure in Chamisa's camp, over allegations of nepotism and the imposition of leadership within the province.

The rift has exposed underlying fractures within Chamisa’s camp, threatening to derail its unity and focus ahead of the expected launch of a new political outfit.

A source within the opposition, who chose to remain anonymous for fear of reprisals, revealed to this publication the extent of the dissent brewing against Chibaya.

"Our struggle for fair and transparent leadership within the party has been hijacked by Chibaya. He has imposed as cluster leaders individuals like Gedion Shoko, Jasmine Tofa, and Sphiwe Ncube, who have all been previously rejected by our members in Bulawayo. It's a clear case of nepotism and favouritism," the source lamented.

The source further accused Chibaya of being a "wolf in sheep's clothing," alleging that his actions were not only undermining Chamisa's leadership but also causing members to question Chamisa's ability to steer the opposition movement effectively.

"Chibaya pretends to be a loyal follower of Chamisa, but his actions are causing people to doubt our leader. He has self-appointed himself as the godfather of Bulawayo province, only favouring those aligned with him, his mistresses, or those who 'pay a tithe' to him for leadership positions."

The source added that this imposition of leadership has ignited frustration among the opposition members in Bulawayo, who view Chibaya's manoeuvres as a betrayal of the democratic principles the opposition stands for.

The same source issued a stern warning about the potential consequences if Chibaya does not amend his approach.

"If Chibaya doesn't stop treating opposition members in Bulawayo like his subjects, there will be a bloodbath. We might end up barring him from entering Bulawayo Province again. Our patience has its limits, and we are ready to protect the integrity of our movement,” said the source.

Commenting on the situation, political commentator Calvin Chitsunge said that the situation in Bulawayo presents a significant challenge for Chamisa and the opposition leadership, requiring immediate and decisive action to quell the unrest and restore faith among the members.

Efforts to get a comment from Chibaya were futile, as his mobile phones were not being answered.