BATTLE FOR CONTROL: TURMOIL IN CCC AS LEADERSHIP DISPUTE RAGES ON

In the tempestuous landscape of Zimbabwean politics, the crisis engulfing the main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), shows no signs of abating. At the heart of this turmoil lies a bitter leadership dispute that has splintered the party into factions, each claiming legitimacy over the other.

The latest episode in this unfolding drama came with a startling announcement by a faction within the party, led by the self-styled Secretary-General Sengezo Tshabangu. In a move that sent shockwaves through the political arena, Tshabangu declared Welshman Ncube as the interim rotational leader of the CCC. This announcement, backed by prominent figures such as Tendai Biti and Lynette Karenyi-Kore, marked a significant pivot in the ongoing power struggle.

However, this bold assertion was swiftly countered by a rival faction, sympathetic to the party’s former leader, Nelson Chamisa. According to Promise Mkhwananzi, the CCC spokesperson, the real power resides with James Timba, designated as the party’s caretaker in this tumultuous period. In a press briefing, Mkhwananzi emphasized the resolutions of the Citizens National Assembly (CNA) held in January, which reaffirmed Timba’s leadership role and outrightly dismissed the claims made by Ncube’s faction.

Mkhwananzi stated, “The CNA reconfirmed its resolution of the 31st of January on the leadership of the party and dismissed with contempt, the delusional claims by Welshman Ncube et al, that the party is under the leadership of the Supreme Court nullified MDC 2019 leadership structure.” He further clarified that Senator Jameson Zvidzai Timba is at the helm of all party affairs, overseeing the administrative bureau without the establishment of an acting president or a standing committee structure.

In a decisive move to cement this stance, the CNA ratified the expansion of the Administrative bureau, integrating the heads of the party’s various bureaus. This expansion was accompanied by the confirmation of several key appointments:

1. Hon. Agency Gumbo, heading the Legal & Parliamentary Affairs Bureau;
2. Hon. Ropafadzo Makumire, leading the Local Government Bureau;
3. Mr. Leslie Mukurazhizha, in charge of the Finance and Fundraising Bureau; and
4. Mr. Mudzingwa, overseeing the People With Disabilities Bureau.

These appointments signify an attempt by the Chamisa-aligned faction to consolidate power and streamline the party’s operations amid ongoing internal conflicts. The CCC, once a formidable force in Zimbabwean politics, now finds itself at a crossroads, with its very identity and future hanging in the balance.

The leadership dispute within the CCC not only underscores the challenges faced by opposition parties in Zimbabwe but also reflects the broader issues of governance, democracy, and political stability in the country. As both factions stand firm in their claims, the path forward remains uncertain, with the party’s supporters and the Zimbabwean electorate watching closely.

This ongoing power struggle within the CCC serves as a poignant reminder of the complexities and volatility of political life in Zimbabwe. As the party grapples with its internal demons, the ultimate question remains: can the CCC overcome its current crisis to emerge as a united force capable of challenging the status quo, or will it succumb to the divisions that threaten to tear it apart? Only time will tell, but for now, the battle for control within the CCC rages on, as undetermined as ever.