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Citizens Coalition for Change

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Citizens Coalition for Change
Secretary-GeneralSengezo Tshabangu
President (Disputed)Welshman Ncube[1][2]
Jameson Timba[3]
FounderNelson Chamisa
Founded22 January 2022 (2022-01-22)
Split fromMovement for Democratic Change Alliance
HeadquartersHarare
IdeologySocial democracy[4]
Christian democracy[5]
Liberal democracy[6][7][8]
Civic nationalism[9][10]
Left-wing nationalism[11]
Social conservatism[12]
Anti-corruption[13]
Political positionCentre-left[citation needed]
International affiliationProgressive Alliance
Colours  Yellow
National Assembly
86 / 280
Senate
27 / 90
Pan-African Parliament
0 / 5
Website
www.ccczimbabwe.com

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is a Zimbabwean political party established in 2022 by former members of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance.[14][15]

Background

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Nelson Chamisa formed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) after losing[16] a dispute over the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance against Douglas Mwonzora, leader of the Movement for Democratic Change - Tsvangirai (MDC-T).[17] Chamisa proposed yellow and the raised index finger as the new colour and symbol of the party.[18]

The CCC has no official constitution in order to avoid being bound by its supremacy as it was in the MDC.[citation needed] Following the formation of the CCC, several MDC Alliance MPs and councilors were accused of showing allegiance to Chamisa and recalled from parliament by Mwonzora, whom had taken over the MDC Alliance. This, alongside the deaths of some officials,[citation needed] left a number of vacancies in parliamentary seats,[19] which triggered by-elections under Zimbabwean constitutional law. Elections in 28 seats were conducted on 26 March 2022 in which the newly formed CCC won 19 and ZANU–PF won 9 seats.[20] Mwonzora's rump MDC Alliance did not secure any seats. The weeks preceding the by-election saw some government-sponsored violence against CCC (including violence at a CCC rally in Kwekwe which led to the stabbing and death of a party supporter, Mboneni Ncube, by suspected ZANU-PF supporters).[21]

2023 recall of Members of Parliament

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At its inception in 2022, the CCC party had the president of the CCC party Nelson Chamisa as the sole office holder. Chamisa refused to craft an interim constitution and party structures as interim leader. During this period of disorganization, Sengezo Tshabangu, another party member, began his campaign to claim the title and role of the interim secretary general of the party.[22] His claim was rejected by Chamisa.[23] It has been suggested that he represents an agitated group of the old generation of the MDC Alliance who were sidelined by Chamisa, most notably Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube, two VPs of the former MDC Alliance. However, evidence to support these claims has been insufficient to date.

On 3 October 2022, Tshabangu wrote letters to the speaker of the parliament, president of the senate, and minister of local government recalling MPs, senators and councillors who were elected on the CCC ticket. He submitted his own credentials and interim constitution to the parliament and ZEC, which essentially meant he was now the bona fide leader of the party.[citation needed] The letters were accepted and the MPs, senators and councillors were recalled. The recalled MPs, Senators and Councillors approached the high court of Zimbabwe claiming that Tshabangu was not a member of the CCC party, moreso the secretary general. However, this could not be proven due to the party's of constitution, party member list, and minutes of its meetings. Tshabangu thus took control of the CCC party following the high court's decision. The recalled MPs, senators and councillors approached the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe to counter Tshabangu's claim.[citation needed][when?] The CCC party also approached the high court interdicting Tshabangu from using its party name, symbols and claiming to be the secretary general. Instead, Sengezo Tshabangu has submitted an interim constitution of the party which means he is now the bona fide leader of the party.[citation needed]

Chamisa resigned on 27 January 2024, claiming government interference had "contaminated" and "hijacked" the CCC.[24]

Post-Chamisa era

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After Nelson Chamisa resigned as party president and member of the CCC in 2024, other members who were loyal to him also left the party. Among the notable departures were Rusty Markham and Fadzayi Mahere.[25] In February 2024 it was announced that Welshman Ncube will serve as interim party leader on a 90-day rotational arrangement with Tendai Biti and Lynette Karenyi-Kore until the party holds its elective congress.[26]

Electoral history

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Presidential elections

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Election Party candidate Votes Percentage Votes Percentage Result
First Round Second Round
2023 Nelson Chamisa 1,967,243 44.03% — — Lost Red X

House of Assembly elections

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Election Party leader Votes % Seats +/– Position Result
2022 (by-election) Nelson Chamisa
19 / 28
 Increase 19 New entry 1st Opposition
2023 1,856,393 41.46%
103 / 280
 Increase 103 Decrease 2nd Opposition
2023 (by-election)
2 / 10
 Decrease 8
2024 (by-election) Unknown
0 / 6
 Decrease 6

Senate elections

[edit]
Election Party leader Seats +/– Position Result
2023 Nelson Chamisa
27 / 80
 Increase 27 New entry 2nd Opposition

References

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  1. ↑ "Fractured CCC set to hold first elective congress - ZimStar News". zimstarnews.com. Retrieved 10 October 2026.
  2. ↑ "Chamisa's ally throws tantrum over CCC new leadership".
  3. ↑ "Timba led CCC faction issues chilling threat against MPS as opposition rift deepens". 20 February 2024.
  4. ↑ "Zimbabwe: Chamisa Bemoans Zimbabwe's Extreme Poverty Levels". Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Zimbabwe: Zim Elections - CCC Vows to Run Country On Christian Values". New Zimbabwe. 11 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Opposition leader says Zimbabwe's voters forced to choose ruling party or death". PBS. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  7. ↑ "Zimbabwe's Opposition Criticizes Signing of 'Patriotic Law'". Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  8. ↑ "Can Nelson Chamisa deliver a new Zimbabwe?". Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  9. ↑ "I'm more patriotic than ED: Chamisa". Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  10. ↑ "Zimbabwe's hope: A wind of change to democracy". 5 July 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  11. ↑ "Zimbabwe's hope: A wind of change to democracy". Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  12. ↑ Chamisa, Nelson (5 January 2018). "God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.I thank God for the template!".
  13. ↑ "Zimbabwe elections: Has Chamisa found a chink in Mnangagwa's armour?". Retrieved 23 August 2023.
  14. ↑ Ntali, Elia (24 January 2022). "Breaking News: Chamisa Rebounds With New Party Name".
  15. ↑ Media, Gambakwe (24 January 2022). "BREAKING: Chamisa announces new party name - Citizens Coalition for Change".
  16. ↑ "Zimlii". ZimLii. 15 May 2022. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
  17. ↑ "Nelson Chamisa, Dumps MDC Alliance Name, Launches Citizens Coalition for Change". Voice of America. 24 January 2022. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  18. ↑ Newsday (24 January 2022). "Chamisa party rebrands". NewsDay Zimbabwe. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  19. ↑ Haves, Emily (28 March 2022). "Zimbabwe: conduct ahead of 26 March 2022 elections". UK Parliament House of Lords Library. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  20. ↑ "Zimbabwean opposition party wins majority in by-elections". 28 March 2022.
  21. ↑ Martusciello, Fulvio (14 April 2022). "The murder of Mboneni Ncube". European Parliament. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  22. ↑ Zviko (10 October 2023). "Sengezo Tshabangu Biography| Career, Recall Of CCC MP's". Zimbabwe Profiles. Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  23. ↑ Mafundikwa, Ish (8 December 2023). "Zimbabwe's CCC crisis: Farce turning to tragedy for the opposition". Retrieved 5 April 2026.
  24. ↑ "Nelson Chamisa: Zimbabwe opposition CCC leader quits 'contaminated' party". BBC News. 25 January 2024.
  25. ↑ "Zimbabwe politics | MPs quit in solidarity with Chamisa - eNCA". www.enca.com. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  26. ↑ Staff Reporter (17 February 2024). "Chamisa's ally throws tantrum over CCC new leadership". The Zimbabwe Mail. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
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