Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za
16 February 2024 | 12:00 p.m. SAST
1 minute read

Picture: Pindula News

Following the resignation of Nelson Chamisa on January 25 from the Citizens Coalition for Change, a party that he founded, opposition politics in Zimbabwe are under scrutiny.

Chamisa began his political career in 1999 with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). He rose through the ranks to become the organising secretary of the MDC before taking the helm of the party after the demise of its leader, President Morgan Tsvangirai.

He soon founded the CCC after encountering internal struggles at the MDC. Now, two years after he launched the CCC, he has resigned, citing internal struggles within the party and alleged infiltration by state agents as reasons.

Tino Mambeu, a member of the Zimbabwe Exile Forum, said he believes that despite Chamisa’s resignation, he remains a strong opposition figure in Zimbabwean politics.

“Beyond any reasonable doubt, Nelson Chamisa remains an opposition figure… Whether with a political vehicle or without a political vehicle, he is the face of opposition politics in Zimbabwe. So, the masses do believe in him,” Mambeu said.

The discussion highlighted concerns about institutional capture by the ruling party, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF), which has allegedly extended its control over key branches of government, including the judiciary.

“ZANU-PF, as the political party, and the party that is responsible for government, has captured the judiciary to an extent that anybody today has the capacity, or the audacity or the ability to wake up and declare themselves a leader or a spokesperson or a secretary general of the party,” Mambeu said.

Tensions within the CCC were exemplified by the case of Sengezo Tshabangu, who declared himself interim secretary general of the party and successfully recalled legislators in court, despite lacking recognition from the CCC.

Looking ahead, Mambeu said that Chamisa might explore forming a new political party, learning from past mistakes, and leveraging his continued support among Zimbabwean citizens.

Listen to the full interview on Sabaahul Muslim with Moulana Sulaimaan Ravat: https://on.soundcloud.com/G3tQD