from MARCUS MUSHONGA in Harare, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Bureau
HARARE, (CAJ News) – THERE are mixed feelings, mostly scepticism, following the return to formal politics by Zimbabwe opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa.
Most are sceptical of the nearly-man of local politics, because of the manner he left the political landscape, when in January 2024 he dumped the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
Then, he cited infiltration by the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party and the hijacking of the opposition party by state institutions.
His departure left the CCC in turmoil, with factions battling for control and funding.
Exactly two years later, Chamisa (47) has announced his comeback.
His return centres on the launch of an initiative dubbed “Agenda 2026,” which he describes as a broad-based citizens’ movement rather than a traditional political party.
Chamisa argues that traditional political parties are disposed to infiltration and division, while a movement like the liberation struggle can better unite the nation.
“Zimbabwe needs a fresh start,” Chamisa said in Harare at the launch of his new movement.
“What happened before must never be repeated. Zimbabwe needs a new way. This new way is born out of long-term reflection on a critical truth: the challenge of our politics is that the alternative has too often been built on a rotten, compromised, exhausted, and sterile past.”
Chamisa said the Agenda 2026 was about “a clean break from the mistakes and missteps of the past.”
“It is a commitment to reimagine Zimbabwe and to rebuild our nation on democratic values, constitutionalism, competence and compassion.”
Chamisa described his new movement as “a new national consensus by the citizens, with the citizens and for the citizens.”
“Zimbabwe needs a unity of action, direction and destiny,” the politician added.
A trained lawyer and theologian, Chamisa joined the then main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), of Morgan Tsvangirai (now late) at its formation in 1999.
He served as the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) as part of the national unity government that governed Zimbabwe from 2009 to 2013.
In 2018, after the death of ex-Prime Minister Tsvangirai, Chamisa assumed leadership of the MDC, sparking a split within the opposition party, which eventually cost it the 2018 elections.
Now running under the ticket of the CCC, he lost again in 2023, against current president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, of ZANU-PF.
It was apparent fatigue had gripped the opposition, despite repeated allegations by the party that elections were rigged.
He left CCC in early 2024, hence his return has been met with scepticism.
“First apologise to those who backed you, the betrayal they endured and take accountability,” Fine Bantu responded to Chamisa.
Rachel Rusenza described Chamisa as a man of “all talk and no action.”
“We have lost faith in you to be honest. Last time you left us hanging, no explanation, nothing,” she responded.
David Mokoena opined, “His immediate challenge will be to prove that taking a break really helped him but should not entirely make it about himself. He has a constituency that desperately needs his leadership ability.”
Exiled former cabinet minister, Jonathan Moyo, believes Chamisa’s new movement would be infiltrated again and he wonders if the opposition politician will dump it again in that event.
“Otherwise, a party that is launched by an individual and which masquerades as a movement is the easiest thing to infiltrate and overrun. Will Chamisa run away, again, if that happens as it sure would?” Moyo quipped.
ZANU-PF Patriots, aligned to the ruling party, ridiculed Chamisa’s return.
It described him as a punching bag, owing to his losses to ZANU-PF in previous elections.
“We are happy that Chamisa is back. We had no opposition and we were relaxing and started fighting amongst ourselves,” ZANU-PF Patriots stated.
ZANU-PF is factionalised between groups supporting Mnangagwa and his first deputy, Constantino Chiwenga.
Despite its in-house problems, the former liberation movement has prevailed over the opposition since independence in 1980.
The next polls are scheduled for 2028, but a faction of ZANU-PF wants Mnangagwa’s term extended to at least 2030.
– CAJ News