*Chamisa’s Leadership Fraud: How He Betrays Matabeleland, Women, and His Own Supporters* Nelson Chamisa, the self-anointed messiah of Zimbabwe’s opposition, is once again proving that his political career is nothing more than a reckless vanity project. As he scrambles to launch his new party after abandoning the sinking ship of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), his latest betrayal comes in the form of his handpicked leadership cabal - a clique of six that reeks of elitism, hypocrisy, and outright disregard for the very principles he pretends to champion. This so-called “top six” consists of Amos Chibaya, Innocent Zvaipa, Fadzai Mahere, Jameson Timba, David Coltart, and Thabani Mpofu - a predictable collection of Chamisa’s unquestioning loyalists, carefully chosen not for their competence or credibility, but for their ability to reinforce his personal grip on power. Noticeably absent? Prince Dubekho Sibanda and Gift Ostalos Siziba, figures with strong grassroots appeal, particularly in Matabeleland. Their exclusion is a glaring insult to the region and a clear signal that Chamisa’s interest in national inclusivity is nothing but a hollow slogan. The most striking hypocrisy in Chamisa’s selection is his tokenistic approach to gender representation. Fadzai Mahere stands as the only woman in his so-called leadership team, a cynical move designed to project an illusion of inclusivity while blatantly sidelining female leaders. For a man who peddles himself as a progressive reformer, his actions expose a deep-seated unwillingness to empower women beyond mere optics. His refusal to bring in more women into his inner circle only confirms what many have suspected all along - Chamisa’s political ambitions are centred around himself and a small band of handpicked elites, with little regard for the principles of true representation. Even more damning is Chamisa’s complete disregard for Matabeleland, a region he has shamelessly courted when it suits his agenda, only to discard at his convenience. The fact that he has replaced key Matabeleland leaders with David Coltart, a relic of Rhodesian privilege, raises serious questions about where his loyalties truly lie. By sidelining prominent leaders from Matabeleland in favour of a white former Rhodesian government official, Chamisa is sending a clear message - he values elite circles and external validation more than the people he claims to represent. This latest blunder has only reaffirmed what former opposition stalwart Eddie Cross has long argued - Chamisa’s leadership is the single greatest reason for the collapse of Zimbabwe’s opposition movement. His reckless decision-making, from abandoning CCC in the face of internal chaos to handpicking a leadership team based on sycophancy rather than merit, demonstrates a leader more concerned with self-preservation than with national progress. The reality is clear: Nelson Chamisa is not a national leader - he is a power-obsessed opportunist. His latest selections prove that he is willing to sideline entire regions, betray core democratic principles, and reduce women’s participation to a mere token gesture - all in service of his personal ambitions. The opposition deserves better, but as long as Chamisa remains at the helm, it will continue to be nothing more than a crumbling vanity project built on empty promises and self-serving hypocrisy. Source: https://x.com/dereckgoto/status/1885022429598142643