The waters continue to churn in Zimbabwe’s opposition movement following Nelson Chamisa’s abrupt departure from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party he formed two years ago.
Chamisa has remained tight-lipped about his next steps. Ostallos Siziba and Amos Chibaya have started criss-crossing the country’s provinces, holding community meetings to introduce the “Blue Movement” – a reference to the colour reportedly favoured by Chamisa for his new project.
The moves have not been well-received by all. Kuwadzana East MP Chalton Hwende took to social media to caution against a “stampede” to speak for Chamisa or claim the “Blue” mantle prematurely.
“The President in his letter clearly said we must wait for a further announcement. Why is there a stampede to force the President to announce his move or associate with the so-called Blue Movement? Opposition is full of compromised people.
“We must all step aside and allow the President to form a genuine movement with NEW people and genuine old cadres. A number of people were labeled, condemned and physically assaulted at the Harare meeting President Chamisa abhors violence. Let’s wait for the President vanoda zvigaro Sitereki vatofanozvipa zvigaro itai steady, let’s wait for the President,” Hwende wrote on X.
When asked about Hwende’s comments, Siziba kept his response short: “I’ve no time for skullduggery.”
The lack of clarity from Chamisa, coupled with the CCC’s current structureless state, has created a vacuum that various factions are jockeying to fill. But as Hwende notes, premature claims of representing Chamisa’s still undefined vision risk further division and turmoil at a critical juncture for the opposition.
Only time will tell how the situation evolves – and which figures, if any, ultimately emerge with the blessing and backing of Zimbabwe’s most popular opposition leader.
