CCC’S INTERNAL WAR: THE STEERING COMMITTEE THAT BROKE THE PARTY

In the chaos that has gripped Zimbabwe’s opposition politics, the Citizen Coalition for Change (CCC) is now bleeding from self-inflicted wounds. Once the most promising vehicle of democratic change, the CCC today stands fractured, confused, and dangerously weakened. But make no mistake—the current crisis is not a surprise. It is the result of a long-brewing internal operation, led by a shadowy but powerful interim steering committee whose roots go deep into the heart of the party’s turmoil.

Media reports have tried to paint the formation of this committee as a recent twist in the ongoing drama. That narrative is false. The truth is this committee has been operating behind the scenes from the beginning of the CCC recalls saga. Chaired by Dingilizwe Tshuma, former MP for Entumbane-Njube, this group has been the architect of destruction, dismantling the party from the inside under the guise of order and leadership.

The committee’s structure includes other powerful figures: Albert Mhlanga as deputy chair, Sengezo Tshabangu as secretary-general, Khaliphani Phugeni in charge of information, Sikhululekile Moyo handling women’s affairs, Nomvula Mguni, Mbuso Siso as treasurer, and Benoni Ncube overseeing the youth wing. This is no ragtag group—it is a calculated political machine. And it has one mission: to recall, destabilize, and dismantle.

What started as a few recalls in Bulawayo quickly turned into a full-blown political purge. With the state watching and clapping from the sidelines, this group tore through the CCC’s ranks, targeting MPs, councillors, and officials. Their weapon of choice? The recall clause. Their real target? The CCC’s unity and strength.

The recalls didn’t grow naturally. They were hijacked—by opportunists inside the CCC, by Zanu PF loyalists looking for a backdoor to destroy the opposition, and by state agents feeding off the chaos. This wasn’t about discipline or internal democracy. It was a coup disguised as order. And it worked. The CCC was turned into a theatre of infighting, suspicion, and betrayal.

Today, the party lies in pieces. Supporters are demoralized. Leaders are scattered. The public no longer knows who speaks for the party, or whether the party can even speak for itself. The recall-driven implosion has handed Zanu PF one of its greatest victories—not in a general election, but through the slow erosion of its only real political rival.

It’s important to understand what’s really happening. This isn’t just about power struggles or disagreements. This is sabotage. State-sponsored, Zanu PF-aligned sabotage, using CCC’s internal gaps as entry points. The goal is to destroy the opposition from within, without firing a single shot.

But the steering committee cannot escape responsibility. They acted with arrogance. They operated in secrecy. They ignored the need for collective consensus. They didn’t just open the door to chaos—they kicked it down.

Their actions have left the CCC more vulnerable than ever. While the steering committee pretends to be saving the party, they are burning it down. While Zanu PF plays the long game, the CCC’s so-called leaders are playing checkers with a chess master. And the cost? Another broken promise of change.

Zimbabwe cannot afford a broken opposition. But that is exactly what we now face. The CCC, once the hope of a new beginning, now risks becoming just another cautionary tale—of how internal greed, betrayal, and manipulation can collapse even the most powerful political movements.

As the country watches this tragedy unfold, one thing is clear: without bold leadership, radical transparency, and grassroots re-engagement, the CCC may never recover. And if it doesn’t, the dream of a democratic Zimbabwe dies with it.