By Advent Shoko
Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Gift “Ostallos” Siziba says the political and legal pressure mounting around Nelson Chamisa is no accident, it is calculated to keep him out of future elections. The spotlight is now on Nelson Chamisa, with maneuvers both inside and outside the courtroom shaping whether he will be allowed to contest the 2028 elections freely, if at all he is permitted to run.
Siziba also linked proposed constitutional amendments tabled before the Cabinet by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi on 10 February 2026, to the broader scheme to keep Chamisa abay. He said:
“President @nelsonchamisa crime is defeating ZANU-PF’s candidate in both 2018 and 2023 to such an extent that they now seek to keep him off the ballot. Zimbabweans who voted for him are being punished with the removal of their right to choose a president of their own choice. This is a direct assault on democratic will, and we cannot watch in silence!”
The proposed amendments would see the power to choose a president transferred from the electorate to Members of Parliament (MPs).
Chamisa’s Return Surrounded by Doubt
Chamisa returned to active politics in January 2026 after a two-year sabbatical. He had resigned from the CCC in January 2024, citing party infiltration and strategic sabotage by ZANU PF, effectively ending his efforts to challenge the outcome of the heavily contested 2023 presidential election. His departure sparked unverified claims that he had been “pacified” with financial inducements to stop contesting the disputed results, a move some say helped legitimise Mnangagwa’s victory. Chamisa initially threatened to take the matter to SADC and the AU before stepping aside.
Legal Battles That Could Block Chamisa From Contesting Future Elections
Chamisa now faces tangible legal obstacles. Senator Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be CCC Secretary General, asserts that Chamisa remains party president and cannot form a new political party, threatening court action if he attempts to do so.
More significantly, High Court case HCH498/26 filed by Professor Talent Rusere seeks to hold Chamisa accountable for fiduciary duties and asset management during his CCC tenure. Rusere stated:
“The application seeks a Declaratory Order establishing that the Respondent, through his ‘Strategic Ambiguity’ policy, exercised absolute control over the resources of the CCC as a Constructive Trustee.”
He further demands “a Mandatory Accounting of all state and donor funds received since January 2022,” including accountability for an armoured vehicle funded via public GoFundMe. An interdict seeks to prevent Chamisa from registering any new political entity with ZEC “until a transparent handover-takeover and a certified financial audit are completed.”
Chamisa In Previous Presidential Elections
Chamisa narrowly lost to Mnangagwa in the fiercely contested 2018 and 2023 elections, both of which he rejected, citing irregularities. Local and international observers, including the SADC mission, condemned the 2023 polls as failing to meet required standards.
Siziba believes that legal battles, internal party disputes, and proposed constitutional amendments are all orchestrated efforts to keep Nelson Chamisa off the 2028 elections ballot and dilute the democratic will of voters.
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