By Advent Shoko
Former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa says Zimbabwe’s crisis is not about constitutional amendments first, it is about legitimacy.
Posting on X (formerly Twitter) amid growing debate over proposed constitutional amendments that would extend presidential terms from five to seven years and transfer the election of the President from the electorate to Members of Parliament, Chamisa argued that the real issue lies deeper. He wrote:
“THE HEART OF THE CRISIS …Fight we must, but which fight?
Fellow citizens, let’s address the root problem once and for all. Zimbabwe needs and deserves a fairly and credibly chosen Citizens Government. An inclusive government from the citizens, by the citizens and for the citizens.
if someone steals your car and drives off, and later you find them in a garage changing the wheels, is your battle truly about the wheels , or about reclaiming your car and taking back what was yours all along? #NationalDuty #CallToAction”
The analogy was clear. For Chamisa, debating constitutional amendments without resolving the 2023 disputed elections is like arguing about the wheels of a stolen car instead of recovering the vehicle itself.
When challenged by a follower who asked whether this meant “kumbodzoka 2023”, going back to 2023, and argued that the focus should now be defending the Constitution so “the car can’t be stolen again,” Chamisa pushed back firmly. He responded:
“Hakusi kudzoka 2023. Kuenda mberi. Ngatirape chirwere kwete Kucherera. I respectfully submit they you may need to reframe your diagnosis of our collective condition…”
Loosely translated, he said, “It’s not about going back to 2023. It’s about moving forward. Let’s treat the disease, not just manage the symptoms.”
Chamisa has consistently maintained that the 2023 elections were flawed. Observer missions, including SADC’s, raised concerns about aspects of the polls, though the government dismissed allegations of rigging and declared the elections free and fair.
Still, not everyone is convinced by Chamisa’s latest framing. One commentator questioned the practicality of reopening the 2023 debate three years later:
“But Mdara how do you resolve 2023 now, when 3 years ago it was when there was still momentum on that stolen election and you had SADC and AU reports?
How do you plan to get 2023 back on the agenda?
None of your plans include mass protests. The only proven successful method.”
The exchange captures the deep divisions within the opposition camp, between those who believe legitimacy must be confronted head-on, and those who argue the political moment has passed. As constitutional changes loom, the bigger question remains, is Zimbabwe fighting about the wheels, or the car itself?
Leave a Reply