Edson Chihengere, the Zanu PF provincial chairperson for Midlands, has issued a bold declaration regarding the political future of Nelson Chamisa, former leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
Addressing a gathering of Zanu PF supporters at Charandura business centre in Chirumanzu, Chihengere asserted that Chamisa is poised to launch a new political party, a move he vowed Zanu PF would actively counter. The event, which saw the public display of 50 individuals claiming to have defected from the CCC to Zanu PF, served as a backdrop for Chihengere’s forceful pronouncements.
Chihengere’s statement was unequivocal in its hostility towards any new party formed by Chamisa.
“This party (CCC) wants to register another party. We know there is no longer any CCC because the party has disintegrated. We are waiting for the new party to come on board so that we destroy it again,” he declared.
This aggressive stance reflects Zanu PF’s determination to maintain its grip on power and suppress any significant opposition. The statement also implies a belief within Zanu PF that the CCC is essentially defunct, a view likely intended to bolster the morale of their supporters and demoralise remaining CCC members.
Chihengere’s comments followed a recent event where 50 alleged CCC supporters were paraded as having joined Zanu PF. This public display of defections, while potentially symbolic of shifting political allegiances, also raises questions about the methods used to secure these supposed defections and the authenticity of the individuals’ claimed allegiances. The context of the event suggests a concerted effort by Zanu PF to portray a weakening of the opposition and strengthen its own position.
While Chihengere celebrated the defections, he also issued a warning to the new recruits. He cautioned against joining Zanu PF with purely self-serving ambitions.
“Let me, however, say you are better being open in joining Zanu PF than those who are already in the party yet we do not know how they came to be Zanu PF members,” he stated.
This subtle dig at existing Zanu PF members suggests internal divisions and a need to address concerns about loyalty and opportunistic behaviour within the ruling party itself.
These pronouncements from Zanu PF come amidst a period of significant political flux. Chamisa himself, speaking at his uncle Chamunorwa’s memorial service in Masvingo last month, acknowledged the widespread expectation that he should lead the country. However, he refuted claims that he was actively preparing to form a new political party to challenge Zanu PF.
“He, however, said he was not ready to form a political party to challenge the ruling party,” according to reports.
This statement creates a discrepancy between Chamisa’s public pronouncements and the assertions made by Chihengere, raising questions about the accuracy of Zanu PF’s intelligence and the potential for political maneuvering on both sides.
Tshabangu’s actions, which involved recalling legislators elected under the CCC banner, created internal divisions and instability within the party. This internal strife within the opposition provides a convenient narrative for Zanu PF to portray the opposition as weak and divided, bolstering their own claims of strength and stability.
