Innocent Sibonginkosi Ncube
Political commentator Brighton Mutebuka has responded sharply to claims made by Freeman Chari regarding former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa.
Chari, a veteran opposition activist based in the United States, suggested that Chamisa personalized the movement through his doctrine of “Strategic Ambiguity,” which he argued led to the abandonment of foundational agreements within the party.
In a post on X, Mutebuka criticized Chari for exposing sensitive internal discussions to the public, stating,
“Confidential and private discussions should always be kept under lock and key to engender enduring trust and relationships.”
He emphasized that even disagreements should not lead to the public airing of internal matters, calling it a “cardinal rule in politics.”
Mutebuka further revealed that Chamisa was never keen on collaborating with former senior MDC officials who had left the party under the late Morgan Tsvangirai. He noted that notable figures such as Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti, and Job Sikhala, who departed at various points, later returned to join the MDC Alliance—a move that Mutebuka suggests Chamisa did not fully support.
“For the record, we all agreed on the fundamentals. Where we differ is our understanding of the dynamics involved and how to resolve them,” he wrote.
He added that Chamisa was “forced to embrace” these former colleagues when he inherited the MDC-A from Tsvangirai, indicating a lack of genuine support for their return.
Mutebuka pointed out that the lack of trust within the party was significant, especially with the by-elections of March 2022 occurring just two months after the formation of the CCC.
“There was never enough time to complete the formalities of adopting a party Constitution at the time,” he explained, noting that the draft remained unfinalized.
He also highlighted the challenges Chamisa faced, stating,
“The lack of trust was terminal, with many lying in wait to pounce and break away soon after the elections.”
Mutebuka argued that Chamisa’s adoption of Strategic Ambiguity was a response to these challenges, aimed at preventing infiltration and hijacking of the party.
“Chamisa succeeded in exposing the regime for conducting a sham election, which was confirmed by SADC’s SEOM Final Report,” he stated, defending Chamisa’s actions under the circumstances.
He concluded that by breaking free and starting afresh, Chamisa has a final chance to establish a project on his own terms, despite the challenges ahead.
“It won’t be a walk in the park, but it’s for the best that a line be drawn in the sand concerning a very painful and traumatic past!”
Mutebuka asserted, emphasizing the need for a new direction for the party.
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