The Nelson Chamisa-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)’s penchant for imposing candidates during elections has backfired after senior party leaders apparently failed to resolve the issue of double candidates in Masvingo Urban, Ward 4.
A delegation led by the party’s Secretary-General, Chalton Hwende failed to persuade one of the two candidates to withdraw from the race ahead of the 26 March by-elections.
Thokozile Muchuchuti and Aleck Tabe both successfully submitted nomination papers to represent CCC in the upcoming polls.
National party leaders went to Masvingo to convince Muchuchuti to withdraw from the race despite her being the first to have her nomination papers signed and filed on 26 January.
Reports suggest that provincial leaders are reportedly backing Muchuchuti who claims she is being victimised “again”.
In 2018, Muchuchuti won the MDC Alliance primaries but was forced to step aside for Godfrey Kurauone. Kurauone is now based in the United States of America.
Muchuchuti told NewZimbabwe.com that she was not going to step aside since the party supporters are telling her not to pave way for Tabe. She said:
I didn’t attend the meeting in Harare because I was told to step down, but I won’t do that.
I will rather go on and contest because it’s not the first time I’m being victimised.
In 2018, I won the primary election and was told to do the same, but this time I won’t pave way for someone who is just new in the party.
On Thursday, all CCC candidates for the upcoming by-elections reportedly met Chamisa in Harare to strategise ahead of the 26 March elections and Muchuchuti avoided the indaba.
Meanwhile, Tabe insisted that he was endorsed by the people and the party leadership. He said:
I have been confirmed as CCC candidate for Ward 4. Out of all the stakeholder consultative processes done on the ground, I was declared the rightful candidate.
If she (Muchuchuti) chooses to defy the party’s position, then the party spokesperson will issue a statement.