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Herald Reporter
BARELY a week before the sitting of the Nomination Court, the opposition CCC party is yet to unveil its candidates, with many of the party’s old guard, including vice president Mr Tendai Biti, now facing an uncertain future.
Mr Biti, for long suspected to be angling to wrest power from Mr Nelson Chamisa, has been under the cosh since branding his rival in the party’s clandestine candidate selection process, Harare North MP Mr Allan Markham, a “snake” and ‘munhu asina mabvi’, and could face an inglorious exit from the political scene as the party’s young hounds bay for his blood.
Most of the youths who are baying for Mr Biti’s blood are die-hard loyalists of Mr Chamisa and they have made their distaste and distrust for the Harare East legislator clear.
Insiders said Mr Chamisa has been trying to offer Mr Biti a soft landing in the Senate, but the latter has thumbed his nose—much to the chagrin of the party’s leader’s loyalists.
Mr Takudzwa Ngadziore, perceived as Mr Chamisa’s confidante, openly attacked Mr Biti for his 2 minutes 50 seconds video clip circulating on social media, which he takes a dig at Mr Markham although without mentioning his name directly.
Mr Ngadziore was however, quick to delete his tweet which people like Mr Tapiwanashe Chiriga had tagged commenting: “Agreed! Hate speech, racism and vitriolic incitement to violence should never have space amongst democrats especially those who have written about “how democracy works before.”
A top official within the CCC ranks who spoke on condition of anonymity said Mr Biti’s political career was hanging by a thread.
“For Biti he is between a rock and a hard surface as Markham seems to enjoy the support of Chamisa and lieutenants. For someone of his stature to see him going public attacking a fellow contender, it means his hope is now only the masses. As of now he is politically ‘dead’,” said the source.
Another source said Mr Biti failed to play his cards well.
“When people like MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora were pushing for the issue of delimitation he was among those mocking him not knowing that it was going to haunt him also. It is a wake-up call that we should tackle issues not personalities,” said the source.
In a 2 minutes 50 seconds video clip, Mr Biti was furious, refusing to be relegated to the Senate.
“When I last came here, I was not mentioning names but today I am doing so. We don’t want snakes in Harare East, no to Tsukukuviri. Some are now moving around with “vasina mabvi”. We don’t want a snake, no to black mamba.
“Constituency should know that we don’t want a snake, we are going to crush its head. Chamisa for presidency, Biti for MP and this guy you know him he is called Honzero, but a snake should be crushed from the head, this is our word everywhere,” he said.
Mr Biti also distanced himself from taking the position of Senator.
“There are some people thinking that Chamisa will be short of candidates moving around telling lies. If you want to campaign do so without mentioning someone’s name. I hear some saying Biti wants to be a Senator. I don’t want to be one.
“We need to put effective people who represent you well. Some of you use the internet witnessing works we are doing, some you see it on Facebook. A person who we are selecting for the MP post is Tendai Biti. We have some campaigning to be councillors,” he said.
So far Zanu PF is the only party that has completed all processes ahead of the August 23 polls, with the opposition fiddling with the necessary processes even when the Nomination Court, which sits on June 21, is receiving nomination papers from prospective candidates.
Online Reporter