Tensions are rising within the CCC opposition party ahead of the filing of candidates for the August elections, with signs of a split emerging between party leader Nelson Chamisa and vice president Tendai Biti.
Biti, a long-time rival of Chamisa, was passed over for reselection as MP for Harare East constituency in what appears to be a power play by the CCC leader. Chamisa announced the full list of CCC candidates selected by an “independent panel”, claiming it was a “fantastic job”.
However, Biti was furious at being relegated to the Senate, accusing Chamisa loyalists of scheming against him. In a leaked audio clip, Biti lashed out at his would-be replacement Allan Markham, calling him a “snake” and vowing to “crash his head”. He declared he did not want to be a senator, saying “We need to put effective people who represent.”
Chamisa ally Takudzwa Ngadziore publicly criticized Biti for his comments, before deleting the tweet. The episode shows the simmering tensions between the two CCC power centres, with Chamisa seemingly determined to sideline his ambitious and outspoken deputy.
The opposition party, formed just months ago, has been rife with allegations of a lack of internal democracy and centralization of power around Chamisa. The engineered ouster of Biti, a founding CCC member, from his Harare stronghold could prove the tipping point, potentially plunging the party into open splits and infighting just weeks before the critical elections.
How the CCC handles the fallout from Biti’s selection snub, and whether the feuding factions can present a united front for voters, will determine if the opposition can effectively challenge ZANU-PF’s long rule.
