Staff ReporterHarare: Nelson Chamisa, the self-declared Change Champion in Chief of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), has countered calls from party members, including Tendai Biti, for a shift towards collective leadership. Biti, a former Minister of Finance and one of the deputy presidents of the now-transformed MDC Alliance, has been vocal about his concerns regarding the party’s current leadership approach.
In a recent statement, Biti criticized what he termed as “strategic ambiguity” under Chamisa’s leadership, advocating for transparency, constitutionalism, and collective decision-making. He stated, “I am a democrat who believes in constitutionalism, the rule of law, transparency, openness, and collective leadership. I can never compromise on these core values.”
However, Chamisa’s response to these calls was clear. In a reply to a follower on social media, he questioned the feasibility of collective leadership among those with differing visions, saying, “Is there anything called collective leadership for unlike hearts and minds?? Governance issues are matters of the heart.”
This stance has sparked debate among political analysts, some of whom argue that Chamisa’s approach may lead to further divisions within the CCC. Recent developments have seen Sengezo Tshabangu, a party activist, claim the interim secretary-general role and initiate the recall of several elected representatives, suggesting internal rifts.
Furthermore, Chamisa has faced criticism for what some describe as autocratic tendencies, allegedly making unilateral decisions without broader party consultation.
Hopewell Chin’ono, a renowned journalist, commented on the situation, suggesting that those seeking a more democratic party structure might have to look beyond the CCC. “I think those who are wanting collective leadership should leave CCC and allow Nelson Chamisa to run his project the way he wants to,” he said.
