CCC Infighting: Welshman Ncube accuses Nelson Chamisa of dictatorial leadership
In a recent interview with Bulawayo-based online news channel CITE, Welshman Ncube, the acting president of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), didn’t hold back on his criticism of former party leader Nelson Chamisa. Ncube accused Chamisa of transforming the opposition party into a one-man show before his resignation.
Chamisa, who lost control of the MDC Alliance to Douglas Mwonzora, unveiled the CCC in January 2022. However, the party quickly splintered into three factions: one led by Chamisa’s loyalists, another by self-imposed interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu, and a third that coalesced under the MDC 2019 structures, with Ncube emerging as its acting president.
During the interview, Ncube indirectly criticized Chamisa’s leadership style, suggesting that it had created the crisis currently plaguing the opposition. He highlighted the breakdown of collective decision-making and the inability to address challenges as elected leaders, due to suspended meetings and limited engagement platforms.
Ncube emphasized the importance of demonstrating opposition to the ruling ZANU-PF party’s authoritarianism. He argued that the opposition should act democratically and transparently, setting an example for a future government instead of replicating the autocratic tendencies they criticize.
Regarding his own position, Ncube explained that as the most senior of the three vice-presidents elected at Gweru, he was tasked with assuming the role of acting president after Chamisa’s resignation. The standing committee decided on a 90-day rotational basis for the acting presidency, with Tendai Biti and Lynette Karenyi-Kore also taking turns.
Ncube revealed that he last spoke to Chamisa two months ago, indicating a growing distance between them. He also distanced himself from Tshabangu, refuting previous reports that he and Biti were involved in a plot to wrest control of the party from Chamisa.
Chamisa’s next move remains unknown since his resignation, leaving some CCC legislators in a state of uncertainty. Some have chosen to remain in their positions, citing a lack of clarity regarding the party’s direction moving forward.
As CCC continues to grapple with internal conflicts and power struggles, the opposition landscape in Zimbabwe becomes increasingly fragmented. The outcome of this power struggle within the CCC could have far-reaching implications for the opposition’s ability to mount a unified challenge against the ruling party in future elections.
