Citizens Coalition for Change
{{Distinguish|Zimbabwe coalition}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox political party
| country = Zimbabwe
| name = Citizens Coalition for Change
| founder = Nelson Chamisa
| foundation = {{start date|2022|01|22|df=yes}}
| dissolution =
| split = Movement for Democratic Change Alliance
| merged =
| logo = File:Citizens Coalition For Change logo.png
| logo_size =
| leader1_title = President (Disputed)
| leader1_name = Lynette Karenyi-Kore{{Cite news |title=Chamisa's ally throws tantrum over CCC new leadership |url=https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/politics/chamisas-ally-throws-tauntrum-over-ccc-new-leadership/}}
Jameson Timba{{cite web | url=https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/parliament-parliament/timba-led-ccc-faction-issues-chilling-threat-against-mps-as-opposition-rift-deepens/ | title=Timba led CCC faction issues chilling threat against MPS as opposition rift deepens | date=20 February 2024 }}
| secretary_general = Sengezo Tshabangu
| ideology = Social democracy{{cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202111020406.html|title=Zimbabwe: Chamisa Bemoans Zimbabwe's Extreme Poverty Levels|access-date=23 August 2023}}
Christian democracy{{cite news|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202308110236.html|title=Zimbabwe: Zim Elections - CCC Vows to Run Country On Christian Values|newspaper=New Zimbabwe |date=11 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023}}
Liberal democracy{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/opposition-leader-says-zimbabwes-voters-forced-to-choose-ruling-party-or-death|title=Opposition leader says Zimbabwe's voters forced to choose ruling party or death|website=PBS |date=4 August 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.voaafrica.com/amp/zimbabwe-s-opposition-criticizes-signing-of-patriotic-law-/7183199.html|title=Zimbabwe's Opposition Criticizes Signing of 'Patriotic Law'|access-date=23 August 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/opinions/2023/8/22/can-nelson-chamisa-deliver-a-new-zimbabwe|title=Can Nelson Chamisa deliver a new Zimbabwe?|access-date=23 August 2023}}
Civic nationalism{{cite web|url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/slider/article/33325/im-more-patriotic-than-ed-chamisa|title=I'm more patriotic than ED: Chamisa|access-date=23 August 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://mg.co.za/thoughtleader/opinion/2023-07-05-zimbabwes-hope-a-wind-of-change-to-democracy/?amp|title=Zimbabwe's hope: A wind of change to democracy|date=5 July 2023 |access-date=23 August 2023}}
Left-wing nationalism{{cite web|url=https://www.mg.co.za/thoughtleader/opinion/2023-07-05-zimbabwes-hope-a-wind-of-change-to-democracy/%3famp|title=Zimbabwe's hope: A wind of change to democracy|access-date=23 August 2023}}
Social conservatism{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/nelsonchamisa/status/949181410962702336|title=God created Adam and Eve not Adam and Steve.I thank God for the template!|first=Nelson|last=Chamisa|date=January 5, 2018}}
Anti-corruption{{cite web|url=https://www.theafricareport.com/316022/zimbabwe-elections-has-chamisa-found-a-chink-in-mnangagwas-armour/|title=Zimbabwe elections: Has Chamisa found a chink in Mnangagwa's armour?|access-date=23 August 2023}}
| position =
| youth_wing =
| wing1_title =
| wing1 =
| headquarters = Harare
| national =
| international =
| colours = Yellow
| colorcode = {{party color|Citizens Coalition For Change}}
| seats1_title = National Assembly
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|87|280|hex={{party color|Citizens Coalition For Change}}}}
| seats2_title = Senate
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|27|80|hex={{party color|Citizens Coalition For Change}}}}
| seats3_title = Pan-African Parliament
| seats3 = {{Composition bar|0|5|hex={{party color|Citizens Coalition For Change}}}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.ccczimbabwe.com}}
}}
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is a Zimbabwean political party. It was established by former members of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.263chat.com/breaking-news-chamisa-rebounds-with-new-party-name/|title=Breaking News: Chamisa Rebounds With New Party Name|first=Elia|last=Ntali|date=January 24, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://gambakwe.com/2022/01/24/breaking-chamisa-submits-new-candidates-to-zec/|title=BREAKING: Chamisa announces new party name - Citizens Coalition for Change|first=Gambakwe|last=Media|date=January 24, 2022}}
Background
Nelson Chamisa formed Citizens Coalition for Change after losing{{Cite web |date=15 May 2022 |title=Zimlii |url=https://zimlii.org/zw/judgment/supreme-court-zimbabwe/2020/56 |website=ZimLii |access-date=15 May 2022 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526170733/https://zimlii.org/zw/judgment/supreme-court-zimbabwe/2020/56 |url-status=dead }} the squabbles over party name "MDC Alliance". The president of the CCC party presented yellow as the new color and raising the index finger as the new symbol.{{Cite web|last=Newsday|date=2022-01-24|title=Chamisa party rebrands|url=https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/01/chamisa-party-rebrands/|access-date=2022-02-08|website=NewsDay Zimbabwe|language=en-US}} CCC has no constitution. A way to avoid being bound by its supremacy as it was in MDC. After forming the party, most MDC Alliance MPs and councilors who showed allegiance to Chamisa were recalled from parliament by Douglas Mwonzora, who took over MDC Alliance. This, together with some deaths of officials, called for by-elections in 28 seats which were conducted on 26 March 2022 in which the newly formed CCC won 19 and ZANU–PF won 9.{{Cite web|url=https://www.africanews.com/2022/03/28/zimbabwean-opposition-party-wins-majority-in-by-elections/|title=Zimbabwean opposition party wins majority in by-elections|date=28 March 2022}} It is worthy noting that ZANU-PF gained 9 more parliamentary seats since 2018. The rump MDC Alliance which Mwonzora headed did not win a seat. Weeks before the by-election saw some government-sponsored violence against CCC (including violence at CCC rally in Kwekwe which led to the death of a party supporter){{citation needed|date=November 2023}}.
2023 recall of Members of Parliament
After forming the party in 2022, the interim leader Nelson Chamisa refused to craft an interim constitution and party structures. At its formation, the CCC party had the president of the CCC party Nelson Chamisa as the sole office holder. Taking advantage of this lack of organization (lack of interim constitution and party structures), Sengezo Tshabangu started claiming that he was the interim secretary general of the party. It has been suggested that he represents an agitated group representing the old generation of the MDC Alliance who were sidelined by Nelson Chamisa, most notably Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube who were VPs in the MDC Alliance. However, so far these suggestions have not been proven. Some have suggested that Tshabangu represents a shadowy group called FAZ that runs shady electorals tasks for the ruling ZANU–PF. However, this has also been a subject of conjecture.
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. 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, they couldn't provide any proof that Tshabangu was not the secretary general since the party has no constitution, party member list, or even minutes of their meetings. So in essence, Sengezo Tshabangu took control of the CCC party after the high court judgement. The recalled MPs, Senators and Councillors approached the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe; however, their case is most likely to be thrown out since they do not have proof that Sengezo Tshabangu is not the secretary general of the CCC party since the party had no interim constitution, party structures or minutes of their meetings. At the same time, the CCC party has approached the high court interdicting Tshabangu from using its party name, symbols and claiming to be the secretary general; however, their case will also be thrown out since they do not have proof that Sengezo Tshabangu is not the secretary general of the CCC party since the party had no interim constitution, party structures or minutes of their meetings. 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|date=June 2024}}
Chamisa resigned on 27 January 2024, citing government interference had "contaminated" and "hijacked" the CCC.{{Cite news |date=25 January 2024 |title=Nelson Chamisa: Zimbabwe opposition CCC leader quits 'contaminated' party |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-68095685 |work=BBC News}}
Post-Chamisa era
After Nelson Chamisa resigned as party president and member of the CCC, other members who were loyal to him also left the party. Among the notable departures were Rusty Markham and Fadzayi Mahere.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-12 |title=Zimbabwe politics {{!}} MPs quit in solidarity with Chamisa - eNCA |url=https://www.enca.com/news/zimbabwe-politics-mps-quit-solidarity-chamisa |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=www.enca.com |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |author=Staff Reporter |date=2024-02-17 |title=Chamisa's ally throws tantrum over CCC new leadership |url=https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/politics/chamisas-ally-throws-tauntrum-over-ccc-new-leadership/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The Zimbabwe Mail |language=en-GB}}
Electoral history
= Presidential elections =
class=wikitable style=text-align:center
! rowspan="2" |Election ! rowspan="2" |Party candidate !Votes !Percentage !Votes !Percentage ! rowspan="2" |Result |
colspan="2" |First Round
! colspan="2" |Second Round |
---|
2023
|1,967,243 |44.03% | — | — |Lost {{N}} |
= House of Assembly elections =
class=wikitable style=text-align:center |
Election
!Party leader !Votes !% !Seats ! +/– !Position !Result |
---|
2022 (by-election)
| rowspan="3" |Nelson Chamisa | | |{{Composition bar|19|28|hex={{party color|Citizens Coalition For Change}}}} |{{increase}} 19 |{{new}} 1st |{{no2|Opposition}} |
2023
|1,856,393 |41.46% |{{Composition bar|103|280|hex={{party color|Citizens Coalition For Change}}}} |{{increase}} 103 |{{decrease}} 2nd |{{no2|Opposition}} |
2023 (by-election)
| | |{{Composition bar|2|10|hex={{party color|Citizens Coalition For Change}}}} |{{decrease}} 8 | | |
2024 (by-election)
|Unknown | | |{{Composition bar|0|6|hex={{party color|Citizens Coalition For Change}}}} |{{decrease}} 6 | | |
= Senate elections =
class=wikitable style=text-align:center
!Election !Party leader !Seats !+/– !Position !Result |
2023
|{{Composition bar|27|80|{{party color|Citizens Coalition For Change}}}} |{{increase}} 27 |{{new}} 2nd |{{no2|Opposition}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Zimbabwean political parties}}
Category:Political parties in Zimbabwe
Category:Political parties established in 2022