Zimbabwe’s opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party has warned its aspiring candidates against celebrating early victory, saying the official list of selected candidates has not yet been released.
In some areas, CCC hopefuls have already begun campaigning as if they were confirmed candidates for the 2023 election. However, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere clarified that the Candidate Independent Selection Panel (CISP) has yet to announce the final list of successful nominees.
Several lists purporting to show CCC’s chosen candidates are circulating on social media, but Mahere stressed that an official list of selected nominees will be released “at the appropriate time.”
The CCC’s candidate selection process involves multiple stakeholders consulting to choose community-preferred nominees. The panel considers reports from each stage before compiling all factors to choose a candidate.
Mahere warned that no individual or group has the authority to announce candidates except for the CISP. She urged citizens and stakeholders to disregard “leaked lists” until an official list is released and communicated officially.
Critics argue that CCC is running out of time to complete its candidate selection before the August 23 election. However, Mahere said there were no confirmed candidates yet at any ward level across Zimbabwe.
