Chamisa hits back at Chin'ono again

Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has hit back at prominent journalist Hopewell Chin'ono, rejecting claims that he was opposed to structured politics and deliberately built the CCC around himself.

In a lengthy statement posted on X, Chamisa said he was responding to Chin'ono "out of turn" despite his usual approach of avoiding personal engagements with individuals.

Chamisa said he last spoke to Chin'ono in 2022, following the death of academic and constitutional lawyer Dr Alex Magaisa, and accused the journalist of subsequently embarking on what he described as a "hateful smear campaign" against him.

He alleged that their relationship deteriorated after a leaked audio recording in which Chin'ono and an unidentified intelligence operative allegedly criticised him.

"I therefore saw no reason in continuing to trust you. Since then you have been on a hateful smear campaign, devoting your time to paint me a monster and less than wise," Chamisa said.

He accused Chin'ono of repeatedly making what he described as false and malicious claims aimed at damaging his reputation.

Chamisa said he was responding to the allegations to put the dispute behind him and refocus attention on what he described as citizens' struggles.

"My focus is on fighting for freedom, transformation, a Citizens Republic and a Citizens government in our life," he said.

Chamisa rejected claims that he was opposed to structured and organised political movements, pointing to his involvement in the formation of the MDC, MDC Alliance and CCC.

"I am a champion of structured and organized grassroots movement outfits having successfully founded and formed MDC, MDC ALLIANCE and CCC. It is simply not true that I am averse to structured politics," he said.

He argued that his political record demonstrated an understanding of how to build electoral movements capable of challenging Zanu PF.

"A movement is not just a name. A movement is an idea, a strategy, a structure, it's about collective leadership, its team effort, its energizing the base, it's an organized approach, but above all, an ability to evolve and survive, uncompromised," Chamisa said.

He maintained that the electoral performance of the opposition movements he led could not have been achieved without organisation and strategy.

"You do not organize effectively as we did, and win elections successively as we did, without a plan, method, a structure, and a strategy," he said.

Chamisa also rejected Chin'ono's characterisation of the CCC as a "one-man band".

He argued that the party had representatives in local government, the National Assembly and the Senate, despite his own absence from those institutions.

"CCC is in the local government, National Assembly and Senate. So how does CCC become a ‘one-man band' when it is represented across these arms of government and state, yet the ‘one man', yours truly, is not even part of the band?" he said.

Chamisa also disputed claims that he personally appointed himself CCC president and deliberately built the party around his leadership.

He said the formation of the CCC followed nationwide consultations after the MDC Alliance name and party structures were affected by a court ruling.

According to Chamisa, citizens were consulted on three key questions: what to do after the court ruling, whether to continue participating in elections without reforms, and how presidential, parliamentary and council candidates should be selected.

"The responses from the citizens informed how we behaved thereafter, and up to this day," he said.

Chamisa also pointed to the CCC's electoral performance as evidence that it was more than a personality-driven organisation.

"How does a ‘one man band' attract over 2 million votes and be able to organize and support candidates in different communities all over Zimbabwe?" he asked.

Chamisa said the CCC had internal structures that made decisions and to which its leadership was expected to adhere.

He cited the Citizens National Assembly (CNA), which he said brought together cluster leaders representing different districts and made binding decisions.

"The CNA brought together cluster leaders represented different districts. We also had committees, as well as Bureau," Chamisa said.

He maintained that even he was bound by decisions made through the structures, including instances where he personally held a different political or strategic position.

Chamisa's response comes amid a growing public dispute between him and Chin'ono over the former CCC leader's political record and the collapse of the opposition party.

The dispute has reignited debate over whether the CCC's unconventional organisational model strengthened or weakened its ability to withstand internal divisions and political pressure.

Chamisa, however, insists that the movement was built through broad consultations, collective participation and an organised grassroots strategy rather than personal political ambition.