Have noticed growing sentiments, around the inaugural Citizens Congress, both from well meaning citizens, as well as the regime counterintelligence structures.
I've decided to share some random views on the matter.
2] A few weeks ago, I wrote a (long) article, on how @nelsonchamisa's opponents had failed to understand his #plan
I equally argued that Zimbabwe isn't a normal democracy & thus CCC wouldn't survive for long, if it's leaders behaved & acted as if we were
3] Yes, in a normal democracy, it would be ideal for CCC to go for Congress & participate in the 2023 elections with a leadership without a legitimacy question over their party positions.
However, it's important to query why ZanuPF is very vocal over the CCC Congress concern.
4] Post 2018, ED's multi-pronged strategy to counter legitimacy question bedevilling him, was painting Chamisa with the same brush while keeping MDC internally focused.
The strategy eventually culminated in the infamous SC judgement which bizarrely pushed MDC to a pointless EOC
5] If anyone cares to see how much the SC Judgement was only meant to frustrate @nelsonchamisa, check how ZanuPF lost interest in it, once Nero abandoned the drama
Add also, that the regime doesn't bother inquire why MDC-T hasn't held the ordinary Congress, which is long overdue
6] An internally focused Opp, is ideal for Zanu
Congress/Party primaries, present opportunities
ZanuPF did this with MDC-A
Its more trategic for CCC to use the next 15 months focusing on the census, delimitation process, electoral reforms, ZEC, & not divisive internal processes
7] Another strategic consideration for @CCCZimbabwe, I would assume, is to do with funds.
It's no secret that the party doesn't have enough funds to fully operate as would be ideal.
Most March by-election candidates used personal funds and/or depended on citizens' donations.
8] Those who think the concern for funds is mere scapegoating, should understand that a Congress isn't what happens when a National Leadership is elected.
Congresses actually run for months, from the lowest structure, up to the eventual event.
It's a very expensive exercise.
9] Another issue is that, for all intent & purposes, CCC was formed in January this year
Any narrative that treats the party otherwise is self-serving
A three months old party can't be accused of delaying any processes, using whatever barometer
CCC is still finding its footing
10] I noticed recently, a narrative that perhaps if citizens knew the "full CCC interim leadership", then it would counter some concerns
I found the issue respectfully baseless, because the party has shown effective organizational capacity
CCC is undeniably functioning well
11] Would have been a different story, if CCC had begun showing leadership frailties
The fact that it has since formation, shown otherwise, is an expression of a deliberate strategy
In light of this institutional effectiveness, I'll advocate for allowing all processes to unfold
12] At times we make the tragedy of treating certain "standards", as universal truths
How many know, for instance that MDC didn't use by-election when it was formed, participating in 2 national elections without the system
Sadly, a new strategy now, is treated as "undemocratic"
13] I concede that to whom so much is given, so much is expected & that the unavailability of funds & fear of infiltration shouldn't be 'conviniently' used as justifiable reason for postponing or cancelation of democratic processes.
This however doesn't apply to this scenario.
14] Let's learn from history
It's strategic for CCC to always avoid holding Congresses during the election cycle.
The same strategy was used by the now defunct MDC since its formation.
We now need to accept the coincidental FACT that CCC was formed during an election cycle.
15] In any case, delaying (not postponing), an inaugural Congress isn't a contravention of any law
Nothing forces a 3 months year old party to prematurely hold a Congress
It's a diff scenario when there's an adopted Constitution with laid out stipulations
Currently, there's none
16] It's equally not lost to @nelsonchamisa, that it's now mad season, with so many 'prodigal sons & daughters' joining the citizens movement, 'right in time'
Whereas Nero won't bother choose his supporters, CCC won't be dragged into a process which has attracted Zanu's interest
17] Fellow citizens, I reiterate, let's allow processes to unfold, knowing fully well, that it's not everyone who asks about the baby's whereabouts, who means well.
1. Admittedly, when I first read the "structured currency" headline, I thought the Harare regime was taking its "structures" propaganda too far.
With the benefit of more research on the topic, I'm now totally convinced the Harare regime is indeed taking its propaganda too far.
2. By definition, a structured currency is "structured" in that it's supposedly backed by both mineral reserves (in our case gold) and trust in government's monetory policies & regulations.
Unfortunately, no one believes any of the two are present in our existing circumstances.
3. Part of why all previous gimmicks have failed is a trust deficit.
Even if the government opts to accuse commentators of being alarmists, causing panick and despondency, no one can be faulted for rushing to withdraw their forex savings if we have learned anything from history.
1. Imagine trying to make sense of how some 4 gentlemen in Bulawayo can randomly claim, 'we have recalled Amos Chibaya, he has ceased being a member of CCC'.
Outside the influence of social media, many only know about #CCC because of the efforts of this indefatigable organizer.
2. Propaganda has to make some sort of sense.
Even where some decide to hide behind the claim of "a traceable history in the struggle," Chibaya would make the mark.
A devoted organizer during the times of Tsvangirai & even more so, during the times of Chamisa under the MDC-A.
3. For the successive elections between 2018-2023, it's a mystery how Chibaya found the passion to abandon the comfort of his home and the herculean energy to traverse the country, organizing the Opp for electoral triumph.
Chibaya is very much unheralded & doesn't seem to care.
1. So, a group of at least 25 individuals have decided to join nonexistent forces under the otherwise much heralded #NERA banner to push for electoral reforms.
It's difficult to even identify them as political leaders because they don't represent any political constituency.
2. If you review the outcome of the controversial 2023 election, these people combined had fewer votes than the Councilors who won your ward election.
Many of them have never even bothered to field candidates in successive elections but only pop up whenever they sense a need.
3. If you were to profile them, there is one Lucia Matibenga, masquerading as PDP President.
Her "party" never contests.
She only temporarily enjoyed limelight under PDP when Sen Mwonzora brought her as his MDC-A partner before they connived to recall MPs elected under Chamisa.
1. Interesting comment on this unfolding drama by Prof Ncube.
I, however, can't help recognize the continued conflation of politics & law, which I've previously written about, regarding the formation of CCC party from MDC-A.
It's quite strange that BaNcube does the same here.
2. I take notice of @Welshman_Ncube choice of words here.
He says: MDC-A party's "...National Council resolved to reconstitute itself as CCC..."
By definition, when you "reconstitute," you simply restore or build up again, using remaining parts of whatever has been destroyed.
@Welshman_Ncube 3. However, it was a legal nulity not only for MDC-A to 'reconstitute' itself but to even meet & make legally binding resolutions to begin with.
In 2020, Justice Chitapi ruled that the MDC-A party wasn't a legal persona, effectively meaning it wasn't a legally constituted party.
1. We need to accept that we've seen enough to conclude we've no justice system in Zimbabwe.
Perhaps it's time to totally (temporarily) abandon seeking judicial recourse, particularly around political issues
Why continue subjecting ourselves to the wig wearing ZanuPF activists!
2. Let me rationalize this personal view:
Firstly, we are simply patronizing the generality of the citizens by arguing that going to these "captured courts" is an important academic exercise that exposes judicial capture.
What has been the consequence of exposing this capture?
3. ZanuPF's reaction to the damning SADC Observer Mission report is evidence enough that they don't react to "embarrassment" by showing restraint.
ZanuPF chose rather to burn SADC through an unprecedented propaganda offensive and direct confrontation with the Zambia government.