HARARE – Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa is among party politicians whose suitability for party candidacy in upcoming national elections will next week be subjected to an unprecedented community selection process, the party revealed Thursday.
This comes as CCC announced it has set Wednesday 5 April as the day it shall find suitable party representatives to contest the 2023 elections on the opposition’s ticket.
Addressing a news conference in Harare Thursday, CCC elections officer Ian Makone said the process is going to be overseen by an Independent Candidate Selection Panel (ICSP).
Only communities that have signed into the CCC’s database will select the party representative they want to stand at council, parliament and presidential level.
The opening of the presidential candidate choice to community selection means Chamisa’s popularity within the CCC will also be put to the test.
The opposition chief is almost an undisputed choice for party representative who shall face President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Zanu PF presidential candidate and other hopefuls.
“The selection process will be conducted by an ICSP and community members who have signed into the party’s database will be consulted to nominate their preferred representatives.
“In the event that more than one nominee comes up for a position, there will be a process of consultation in the community, followed by a second round of interface with the community to arrive at a single candidate for the elected position.
“All nominated individuals will undergo an internal vetting process to ensure their suitability for the position,” Makone said.
Some aspiring CCC candidates have already started engaging communities to select them as candidates to represent their wards and constituencies across the length and breadth of the country.
Makone said the ICSP was characterised by reputable community members.
“The selection process will be presided over by an Independent Candidate Selection Panel, which is composed of independent eminent members of the community.
“The validation process will be a complicated one, and a grievance handling committee will be in place to address any complaints from candidates who feel they have been shortchanged.
“The nomination process will commence on April 5th, and the party will be present in all the wards nationally.
“If more than one nominee emerges from the process for any electable position, the Citizens National Assembly will convene to provide directions in terms of the consensus-building process,” said the CCC top official.
CCC’s candidate selection criterion is unprecedented in the history of Zimbabwe’s mainstream politics.
Previously, the former MDC Alliance, conducted primary elections to choose its representatives for national elections.
The practice is being done to this date by the ruling Zanu PF party, which conducted its primaries this past weekend.
