In a surprising move, Nelson Chamisa, the main opposition leader in Zimbabwe, has announced his resignation from his party, a few months after losing his bid for the presidency. Chamisa cited “intimidation and violence” by the regime as the reasons behind his decision.
In a statement, he declared that he no longer has any affiliation with the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), the party he had been associated with. Chamisa expressed his disappointment with the state of the CCC, claiming that it had been “contaminated, bastardized, hijacked by ZANU PF through the abuse of State institutions.”
ZANU PF, the ruling party led by President Emmerson Mnangagwa, was accused of employing dirty tricks during the election. Mnangagwa, popularly known as “The Crocodile,” won a second term in office, while ZANU-PF secured a majority in parliament.
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International observers deemed the election to fall short of democratic standards, leading to heightened political tensions in the country.
Chamisa, in his statement, made a veiled reference to Mnangagwa’s nickname, stating that he would refuse to swim in a river with hungry crocodiles and that he wanted to distance himself from such political games.
He criticized the ruling party for using the courts to target opposition politicians and suppress dissent. The August 23 poll resulted in ZANU-PF securing 177 out of 280 national assembly seats, with the CCC taking 104.
However, in the months following the election, more than 30 opposition lawmakers lost their seats under what analysts believe to be an artificial political crisis. An obscure political figure declared himself the CCC’s “interim secretary general” and claimed that 14 MPs were no longer party members and should be removed from their positions.
Chamisa linked the emergence of this imposter to the election “sham” and suggested that it was part of a larger agenda. He expressed concern about the future of the CCC, which he believes has been taken over by ZANU-PF.
While it remains unclear what Chamisa’s next steps will be, he assured Zimbabweans that he would keep them informed. Despite resigning from the party, Chamisa emphasized his commitment to public service, stating that giving up or giving in is not an option.
As a patriot, Nelson Chamisa resignation will not affect his service to his people. The political landscape in Zimbabwe continues to evolve, and it remains to be seen how this resignation will impact the country’s future.
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