Harare (New Ziana) – After minting a new political toolbox, yet again, Nelson Chamisa had been expected to layout a clear vision for his latest outfit, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), at Sunday’s inaugural rally in Harare.

But, yet again, he appears to have fallen short, leaving supporters and critics baffled.

At least that was the expectation of his critic turned supporter and advisor, self-exiled former cabinet minister, Jonathan Moyo.

He recently tweeted his advice to Chamisa: “At some point CCC Zimbabwe will need to unveil its TRIPLE Cs: CHARACTER: what are its key values that bind diverse citizens and inform its ideology? CONTENT: what are its big ideas that inform its policies and programmes? COMPETENCE: what are its main skills that make a difference?”

Sunday, to many, was the perfect opportunity for the young politician to answer Moyo and others, and layout the CCC’s political vision.

But, as it turned out, Moyo, and “citizens” will have to wait a bit longer for their answers as instead poor organization and messaging characterized the rally.

Content
After turning up late, Chamisa took to the podium but, as usual, delivered an all too familiar tirade against the ruling Zanu PF party, promising yet again to resort to playing dirty if he does not win next year’s election.

Chamisa, refused to concede defeat in the last election which he heavily lost to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and instead incited his supporters to riot, in “defence of their vote.”

This is despite that he even failed to prove the rigging claims in the Constitutional Court.

“We will never allow an election that is rigged. Never again will 2018 be repeated. I will lead you from the front this time. It is known that if we say elections have been stolen and that people should stay away from work, no one will go to work,” he said in reference to the violence that his party unleashed in August 2018 and again in January 2019.

He went on: “Give me power and you will see. I also have another huge declaration to make, when we get into power no police man will ever patrol the streets while carrying a baton stick because when we get into power, we want to enforce digital policing,” an unusual remark, given that baton sticks are a basic policing tool used the world over.
And in a move likely to get him into trouble with his Western handlers, Chamisa lauded the historic land reform programme.

While aiming subtle digs at the programme, saying that its implementation had been chaotic, Chamisa went against his handlers who are vehemently opposed to the land reform, claiming: “I unreservedly agree with the land reform.”

Chamisa’s poor showing at the Highfield rally confirmed what his deputy spokesperson Gift Siziba admitted to only this past week.

Asked by journalists about the party’s agenda and policy thrust, Siziba admitted that his party was still to come up with any strategic objectives and policy thrust, claiming instead that the CCC was keeping its cards close to its chest.

“We are a new political movement formed this year. We have announced our entry into the political market of this country to contest in this by-election and the next elections in 2023, anything to do with our character, to do with our form, to do with our values, to do with our strategic objectives is going to be announced in due course,” he said.

Character
Lying has become a part of the opposition DNA and culture.

After famously being embarrassed for lying on BBCs HardTalk, one would have thought that Chamisa had learned his lesson.

But, as the saying goes, a leopard never changes its spots rings true of Chamisa and his CCC party.

Speaking in Highfield, Chamisa claimed; “If you give me one week in office, you will see white people coming in with money you will see the Chinese coming in with money.”

Even to a gullible crowd, the claims sound too good to be true, especially considering that investors are already flocking into Zimbabwe, because of the investor friendly policies introduced by the Second Republic.

For example, China is heavily investing in the country’s aviation, electricity and mining sectors.

In 2021, the country attracted US$1.8 billion in investment and is expecting a five percent growth this year, according to statistics by the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency.

China, with 94 projects approved by the agency, dominated the investment flows, followed in distant second by India with 38.

Ironically, inspite of sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by their countries, British investors came in third with 10 projects, and the US in fifth with six.

This underlines the success of the government’s engagement and re-engagement policy, the centrepiece of which is development of trade and attraction of foreign investment.

Also confirming that a culture of lying was a heavily embedded character in the CCC, sometime last week, the party’s vice president Tendai Biti was caught peddling falsehoods at a campaign rally at a local shopping centre.

Churning out what he claimed to be his party’s energy policy, the perpetually angry Biti said a CCC government would build new power stations at Hwange and Batoka Gorge, downstream of the Victoria Falls.

“At Batoka we will create 2000 megawatts, 1000 megawatts for Zambia and 1000 megawatts for Zimbabwe. At Hwange we will construct an additional two units, 7 and 8 to produce 1000 megawatts. Do not tell (President) Emmerson (Mnangagwa) because he will copy us,” he claimed.

Again, laudable plans, except the government is already implementing the said projects, with the first of the two new units at Hwange expected on stream by mid-year, while Zimbabwe and Zambia have already identified contractors for the planned 2 400 megawatt Batoka Gorge hydro-electric power plant.

Competence
The CCCs competence or lack of it was also on full display at Zimbabwe Grounds.

The star rally was marked by poor attendance at the scheduled kick off time at eleven in the morning, with the stage and VIP tents still being put up way after the time it was billed to start.

It was almost as if they did not realize they had a rally until the very last minute.

When the rally eventually started, strangely, in place of the national anthem, the old Ishe Komborera Africa one was sung yet Zimbabwe ditched the old anthem, which South Africa and other nations also used, more than a decade ago in favour of the current one.

But, for some reasons yet to be ascertained, the CCC reverted to the old anthem.

Journalists also bore the brunt of the CCCs poor organisation.

While it is customary at rallies of such nature for journalists to station themselves between the crowd and the podium, constant instructions from the marshals on where journalists should work from left many frustrated and unable to do their work properly.

“Why does your party invite us to your events if you do not want us to work freely?” Queried one frustrated reporter who was being directed to a “new work station” by a visibly drunk CCC marshal.
New Ziana