Political Reporter

Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa is reportedly plotting to mobilise for a series of demonstrations to coincide with the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit scheduled to take place in Zimbabwe this August.

According to a source who preferred anonymity, Chamisa and his supporters are keen to bring Zimbabwe's internal political issues to the forefront of the SADC agenda.

"A meeting was recently convened at the Iminyela grounds in Bulawayo by Chamisa's loyalists, where they discussed plans to stage demonstrations during the forthcoming SADC summit. Chamisa believes that this will pressure the regional body to address what he perceives as flawed presidential elections held last year," the source revealed.

The source also mentioned that Chamisa has been actively engaging various independent media outlets, both within and outside Zimbabwe, to promote the false narrative that the last elections were neither free nor fair.

"The aim is to escalate the perceived political deadlock to a regional level, seeking intervention from SADC members," the source explained.

This move comes amid growing internal rifts within Chamisa's camp following his resignation from the CCC.

The planned formation of a new political faction known as the Blue Movement has further intensified these divisions, with key figures vying for leadership positions.

"Jameson Timba, Amos Chibaya, Gift Ostallos Siziba, and Prince Dubeko Sibanda are at odds over positions in the yet-to-be-launched Blue Movement. The tension escalated when Timba recently criticised Chibaya and Siziba after discovering through social media that a strategic meeting had taken place in Bulawayo without his knowledge,” said the source.

Political analyst Dr Tendai Mugwagwa weighed in on the situation, cautioning against Chamisa's approach.

"Bringing the whole country to a standstill because of dissatisfaction with an election result is counter-productive. It is imperative for the opposition to transition out of perpetual election mode and collaborate with the Government in nation-building efforts rather than constantly thinking about protests, " said Dr Mugwagwa.

Dr Mugwagwa added that disputes within the Chamisa faction underscore the challenges Chamisa faces as he attempts to maintain influence over his followers while navigating his next political steps.

“Since stepping down from the CCC, Chamisa has kept his supporters in suspense, leaving many to speculate about his future in Zimbabwean politics,” said Dr Mugwagwa.

Efforts to get a comment from Chamisa were futile as his mobile phones were not reachable.