Welshman Ncube’s CCC hits hard times

Welshman Ncube's Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction has admitted that prolonged legal battles against rival Sengezo Tshabangu have severely affected its political activities, leaving the opposition grouping struggling with financial constraints and declining morale.

The faction's spokesperson, Willias Madzimure, revealed that ongoing court disputes over control of the party have forced the leadership to scale down operations while searching for ways to revive its political structures.

Speaking in an interview with fading daily tabloid NewsDay, Madzimure acknowledged that the faction's reduced public visibility reflected the difficulties it was experiencing rather than a decision to abandon its political ambitions.

"No, we are still there. But you know, sometimes when things get tough, they become draining," he said.

"You can begin to feel hopeless and demotivated, particularly when you have ongoing court cases that do not seem to be reaching a conclusion."

The CCC has been embroiled in leadership disputes since Tshabangu's controversial emergence as interim secretary-general, a development that contributed to the political turmoil preceding founding leader Nelson Chamisa's departure from the party.

Ncube subsequently assumed leadership of a rival faction, which has continued challenging Tshabangu's authority through the courts.

Madzimure insisted that the legal battle was far from over, revealing that the faction still had an appeal awaiting determination by the Supreme Court.

He accused the ruling establishment of orchestrating the divisions within the opposition, describing Tshabangu as a political instrument rather than the principal force behind the dispute.

"We are not really fighting Tshabangu; he is just a tortoise on a lamppost. We are fighting the regime," Madzimure alleged.

He argued that the prolonged litigation had prevented the courts from addressing the substantive questions surrounding the party's legitimate leadership.

Madzimure also questioned Tshabangu's authority to receive public funding allocated to political parties under the Political Parties (Finance) Act.

He alleged that Tshabangu lacked a legitimate mandate to control the funds and accused those facilitating the payments of wrongdoing.

The accusations, including his characterisation of the arrangements as money laundering and fraud, remain allegations made by Madzimure and have not been established by a court in the information provided.

Financial difficulties have emerged as one of the most serious challenges confronting Ncube's faction.

Madzimure said the group's inability to access political party funding had undermined its capacity to maintain offices, hold meetings and rebuild organisational structures.

"If you want to kill an organisation, starve it of funds," he said.

He revealed that the faction had largely relied on virtual meetings to conduct national executive and national council business because it could not afford regular physical gatherings.

However, poor internet connectivity, insufficient mobile data and frequent interruptions had made the arrangement difficult.

"As usual, people run out of data in the middle of meetings. Others cannot access the network and are unable to join," he explained.

"Our biggest challenge is funding. Without funding, you cannot go anywhere."

Despite these setbacks, Madzimure maintained that the faction still had functioning structures and was exploring strategies to strengthen its organisation.

Turning to the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Bill, which he said had become law, Madzimure indicated that the faction supported existing legal challenges rather than filing separate proceedings.

He argued that introducing another case based on substantially similar grounds would unnecessarily duplicate litigation.

"We fully support the cases that have been filed and strongly agree that what happened was unconstitutional and unprocedural," he said.

He expressed confidence that the legal challenges could succeed, although their eventual outcome remains for the courts to determine.

On opposition unity, Madzimure said Ncube's faction remained open to joining a broader political coalition capable of challenging Zanu PF in future elections.

He welcomed initiatives aimed at bringing opposition forces together but stressed that meaningful cooperation required direct engagement, consultation and agreement among participating parties.

Addressing the emerging Sungano Yevanhu initiative, he said the faction had not formally joined because its leadership had not been approached.

"Do you expect to form a coalition through social media?" he asked.

Madzimure nevertheless expressed optimism that opposition leaders were gradually recognising the importance of setting aside personal ambitions in pursuit of a common political objective.

He said informal discussions suggested growing support for a united opposition movement, potentially resembling the earlier MDC Alliance arrangement.

"There is a growing realisation that egos do not help and that looking up to an individual is not the solution," he said.

"We need to organise ourselves, even to the extent of working together and agreeing on a leader who can lead the collective."

He argued that successful political movements depended on collective mobilisation rather than the influence of individual personalities, citing the American civil rights movement associated with Martin Luther King Jr.

According to Madzimure, opposition leaders should prioritise Zimbabwe's future over personal political positions.

"What is important now is for people to put aside their personal ambitions. Individuals cannot bring about change on their own," he said.

His remarks provide a candid assessment of the difficulties facing Ncube's CCC faction as it attempts to remain politically relevant amid unresolved leadership disputes, limited financial resources and continuing divisions within Zimbabwe's opposition.

While the faction insists it has not surrendered its claim to the CCC leadership, its immediate prospects appear closely tied to the outcome of pending court proceedings, its ability to secure funding and the possibility of renewed cooperation among opposition groups.