Lovemore Chinoputsa, a former ally of Nelson Chamisa, the ex-leader of Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, has quit politics and accused him of being a gospel backed dictator.
In a six-page resignation letter, Chinoputsa said he was disillusioned by the lack of direction and the infighting in the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), the party that Chamisa led until his unexpected resignation in January.
Chinoputsa, who was a respected opposition activist and a senior official in the CCC, said he was leaving politics to focus on his family and to distance himself from the “toxic politics of the day”.
Strategic ambiguity and conflict-preneurs
Chinoputsa blamed Chamisa’s “strategic ambiguity” policy and the influence of people he called “conflict-preneurs” for the turmoil in the CCC.
He said Chamisa’s policy, which involved keeping his supporters in suspense about his next move, had more weaknesses than benefits and had created confusion and division in the party.
He also said there were many “pseudo-revolutionaries” who fed into Chamisa’s fears and whispered names of those who were allegedly plotting against him.
“Their end game cannot be understood, their motives cannot be understood, their handlers remain a mystery and I suspect that they are strategically positioned around the leader to ensure that he is in constant fear of a non-existent threat,” Chinoputsa wrote.
He said these people had alienated many well-meaning individuals who wanted to see the opposition succeed in challenging the ruling Zanu PF party.
Parliamentary recalls and factions
Chinoputsa also criticized the decision of Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-styled CCC secretary general, to recall CCC members of parliament in a move that gave Zanu PF a majority in the lower house.
He said this was a betrayal of the democratic aspirations of the people and a gift to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who is widely expected to seek a third term in the 2025 elections.
Chinoputsa said the CCC had been split into two main factions: one that blindly followed Chamisa and his “machinations” and another that was willing to collude with Zanu PF to bring him down.
He said he did not belong to either faction and that he was sickened by the “toxicity and hatred” among his former colleagues.
“The efforts of (the late) President (Morgan) Tsvangirai have surely gone to waste with the way the opposition is being run in this country,” Chinoputsa lamented.
Tsvangirai, who died in 2018, was the founder and leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the predecessor of the CCC.
A private citizen
Chinoputsa said he had decided to quit politics and become a private citizen who would have nothing to do with the current political situation.
He said he hoped that one day, the opposition would restore sanity and unity and offer a viable alternative to the people of Zimbabwe.
He also expressed his gratitude to Chamisa for the opportunity to work with him and wished him well in his future endeavors.
“I retreat into being a private citizen who will have nothing to do with the politics of the day. I will take this time to reconnect with my family and spend more time together as I compensate for the time lost over the years,” he said.
Chinoputsa’s resignation is the latest blow to the CCC, which has been struggling to regroup and reorganize after Chamisa’s departure.
Chamisa, who claims he was robbed of victory in the 2018 presidential election, has not given any clear explanation for his resignation, which he announced on social media. He has also not endorsed any successor or indicated his future plans.
Some analysts say Chamisa’s resignation was a tactical move to avoid legal challenges and to rebrand himself ahead of the 2025 elections.
Others say he was under pressure from his allies and donors to step aside and pave way for a new leadership that could revive the opposition’s fortunes.
The CCC is expected to hold an extraordinary congress later this year to elect a new leader and to adopt a new name and constitution.
Source: New Zimbabwe
