Tinotenda Hove – HARARE – Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Advocate Nelson Chamisa has doubled down on his decision to abandon both the MDC and CCC, saying it was a calculated move to end what he called a “cycle of going in circles” in Zimbabwean opposition politics.

In a forthright message posted Thursday, Chamisa defended his political exit from the two opposition movements, describing it as a turning point in his leadership journey.

“The best decision I ever made in my leadership journey was to walk away from MDC & CCC,” Chamisa stated. “You will thank me later. I had to break the cycle of going in circles. And that was my best way to teach ED a lesson!”

Chamisa’s remarks are widely seen as a veiled attack on President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whom he accuses of systematically sabotaging opposition parties through infiltration, coercion, and manipulation of democratic processes.

His resignation from CCC in January 2024 stunned supporters and left the party in disarray. Chamisa claimed at the time that the opposition platform had been hijacked by forces loyal to ZANU PF, rendering it ineffective as a vehicle for democratic change.

Since his exit, speculation has swirled around Chamisa’s next political move, with some analysts suggesting he is laying the groundwork for a new political movement ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Chamisa’s supporters continue to defend his decision as a necessary purge of compromised political spaces. Meanwhile, critics argue that his repeated departures from political formations risk weakening the broader opposition and confusing voters.

Political analyst Eldred Masunungure said, “Chamisa has a point about infiltration, but his strategy of abandoning parties could backfire. What Zimbabweans want now is consistency, unity, and clarity—not another experiment.”

Despite the uncertainty, Chamisa appears unshaken and confident that history will vindicate his decision.

“It was not an easy path, but sometimes bold steps are needed to correct the course of struggle,” a source close to Chamisa said. “He’s not retreating—he’s reloading.”

As the opposition landscape remains unsettled, the nation watches to see whether Chamisa’s latest gamble will pay off—or deepen the political divide he sought to heal.