Fractured CCC set to hold first elective congress

By Nkosana Dlamini

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) led by interim President Welshman Ncube will in September this year finally hold its first elective congress since transforming from being MDC to CCC in 2022.

“The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) wishes to inform its members, supporters and the people of Zimbabwe that the National Executive Committee (NEC) convened on 11 May 2025 and made critical recommendations to the National Council as part of preparations for the party’s Elective Congress,” party spokesperson Willias Madzimure said in a statement on Monday.

Preparations for congress have already begun, according to Madzimure.

The main opposition party split from MDC and renamed CCC in January 2022 after former secretary general Douglas Mwonzora had seized control of the former MDC following a leadership wrangle that spilled into the courts.

The then MDC last held its elective congress 24-26 May 2019 at Ascot Stadium in Gweru during which Nelson Chamisa was elected president while Tendai Biti, Lynette Karenyi-Kore and Ncube were all elected co-vice presidents.

But what were simmering leadership differences between Chamisa and his comrades for some time finally boiled over, with the politician resigning as leader to take an indefinite break from active politics.

When the party became CCC, there was no party resolution as to whether it was going to retain the former MDC structures or not, something that created a leadership vacuum that would later catch up with it after Chamisa resigned.

Following Chamisa’s resignation, the party faction led by Ncube, as a default measure, reverted to the MDC 2019 structures, with Ncube assuming leadership as interim president.

Another faction loyal to Chamisa has coalesced under veteran opposition politician Jameson Timba.