Chronicle Editor
Gibson Nyikadzino/Gibson Mhaka, Zimpapers Politics Hub
Former CCC leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa’s appeals to the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to overturn the August 23, 2023 election results as illegitimate because he ceased representing the party whose ticket he used to contest, political parties and analysts have said.
Mr Chamisa, who lost the race to President Mnangagwa, yesterday addressed media in Harare saying he was now waiting for the regional bloc to provide what he termed “a clear path forward to resolve the governance crisis and leadership dispute.”
The losing 2023 presidential candidate was also condemned for taking Zimbabwean citizens for granted and trying to muddy the regional bloc’s reputation ahead of the 44th Summit of Heads of State to be held in Harare in August.
The bloc is currently working to address more pressing regional issues including the climate change induced drought, peace and security issues in Mozambique and eastern DRC, South Africa’s elections and is implementing poverty eradication programmes.
Zanu-PF Director of Information and Publicity, Cde Farai Marapira, said the Revolutionary Party was neither moved nor shaken by Mr Chamisa’s latest episode of “sensationalist politics as the people have moved on”.
“We are not worried by Nelson Chamisa. He has always been a sensationalist. Elections have come and gone and he lost all relevance because he feeds on politics of toxicity. He always speaks about Zanu-PF, so we are not bothered. We are only focused on development,” said Cde Marapira.
Cde Marapira said the idea that Sadc is in unison to have President Mnangagwa as the incoming Chair of the bloc in August signified that the bloc has moved on.
“Chamisa’s claims are false. Sadc is moving forward. The only crisis is in his head and that is the miasma of his own making,” Cde Marapira added.
Political analyst, Dr Leopold Chakanyuka chastised Mr Chamisa for failing to understand and comprehend the role of Sadc in elections.
“It is not Sadc’s role to nullify elections, but to play an advisory role. Mr Chamisa should go back to the drawing board because continuing to dwell in the past is not good for him to grow politically.
Dr Chakanyuka also indicated that if Mr Chamisa “has a genuine issue” he should take this opportunity to join other players in the Polad platform created by President Mnangagwa for losing presidential candidates in 2018. He said he should not drag Sadc in his issues.
“President Mnangagwa has been fair with every political leader, Mr Chamisa should grow politically. Sadc is also aware that Zimbabweans are a peaceful people who are now focusing on development. That should tell him a lot,” Dr Chakanyuka added.
Another political analyst, Mr Methuseli Moyo, dismissed Mr Chamisa’s statement saying it was lacking substance.
“This is nothing but a surrender statement. In a nutshell, Chamisa has catalogued his vein efforts, which he admits have yielded nothing and says he has now turned to divinity.
“In politics, this is a surrender, in broad daylight. His statement has not said anything, or pointed to any resolution to the crisis he claims is there. He is very good in imagining crises, yet very bad in solving the ‘crisis’,” said Mr Moyo.
He said his arguments have grown stale and fail to engage current issues.
“His story is tired. Nobody is interested any more. He is now so, so confused to the extent that he does not even know his designation, and signs off as “Servant of the People”. That’s a new one, but which people?”
Lead president ,Ms Linda Masarira said Mr Chamisa’s appeals to Sadc are illegitimate as he is no longer a leader of the CCC whose name he used to contest the elections.
Said Ms Masarira: “He had time back then to challenge election results. Now his appeal is nothing but just mediocre sentiments on the intelligence of the people. He resigned from being a leader of a party he contested under. His timing of the statement tells us that there is an invisible hand that pushed him.”
President Mnangagwa, who is the incoming Sadc Chair, won 52,6 percent of the vote in the 2023 elections, with Mr Nelson Chamisa coming second with 44 percent. Eight representatives of smaller political parties got a combined 3,4 percent of the vote.
Online Reporter