FORMER opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has refused to bow down to pressure amid calls for him to quit politics saying he would “fight to the bitter end”.
Chamisa was at the receiving end of a backlash as Zimbabwe hosted the 44th Sadc Heads of State and Government Summit, which was preceded by a brutal government crackdown which saw approximately 200 political activists and human rights activists arrested, denied bail and placed in pre-trial detention.
The arbitrary arrests and torture by suspected State security agents sparked outrage, with some critics directing their anger at Chamisa, arguing that his political ambiguity had weakened the opposition movement and made it difficult for citizens to fight for justice.
At the forefront of the critics was freelance journalist Hopewell Chin’ono and academic, author and publisher Ibbo Mandanza, who called for Chamisa’s departure from politics to pave way for another opposition leader.
Their line of argument was that Chamisa inherited the late MDC founder Morgan Tsvangirai’s legacy in the opposition, hence given his current incompetence in leading the troubled outfit, there is need for him to quit.
However, Chamisa said it had not been easy to stand for right, truth and the authentic alternative, saying struggles were never easy and far from being a walk in the park.
“These few are in it for the long haul, for service and for Zimbabwe and its people and I am proud to belong to this category,” Chamisa said in a statement shared on various social media platforms.
“The struggles the world over, and since time immemorial, are always laced with multiple sorrows and discomforts, but ultimately, victory kicks in.
- Young vocalist making southern Africa dance
- News in depth: Fears of violent 2023 polls grow as ED fails to deliver on promises
- Chamisa party defiant after ban
- Letter to my people: Mthuli Ncube experiment has failed
Keep Reading
“All this suffering is not in vain. We cannot go through all this pain not to receive our gain and victory in due time.”
Chamisa hit back at critics saying they were resorting to finger pointing and the blame game as post-election dissonance and frustration coping mechanism.
“Some are pretenders, infiltrators and establishment collaborators who play for the other team. And they often shout and caricature the loudest,” he said.
“Some admire the opportunities offered by occupying office and being in government — as president, minister, MP, councillors or public servant. Some are content with benefits and privileges of power and position as opposition for life.”
Chamisa stepped down from the CCC in January, arguing that Zanu PF had infiltrated the party after self-imposed interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu purged several CCC legislators from Parliament.
He has sparked widespread criticism, with some political analysts labelling him “a coward” for fleeing the political scene amid internal turmoil.
“Some are in it for survival and employment, escaping poverty and never for service, change and leaving a legacy,” Chamisa said.
“Some seek shortcuts to decide that if we cannot beat them, join them. So joining the gravy train becomes the easy answer.
“Some choose to disengage and pursue personal goals, interests and business as private citizens. Some are perennial sceptics and perpetual cynics and armchair critics.”
He said naysayers and doomsayers were “a mortal danger to the people’s struggle for a better world”.
Since his departure from CCC, Chamisa has maintained a low-key presence, opting for subtle engagements on social media.
He has, through occasional posts on social media, continued to offer words of encouragement to his followers, assuring them that “God is in it” a phrase that has left many wondering about his future plans and the fate of the opposition movement.
