BY BRYSON CHEDENGA
A Bulawayo de-registered lawyer Sindiso Mazibisa has turned down his nomination in the ongoing Citizens Coalition for Change candidate selection process which party spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said was going on smoothly.
Mazibisa who is the Sindiso Mazibisa Family Foundation patron had been nominated by Magwegwe-Lobengula residents for further consideration to represent CCC during this year’s general elections
“I would like to appreciate the people-driven process that saw a certain section of the residents of Magwegwe-Lobengula acknowledging the community works I have done. Regrettably, directly or indirectly I am not part of the CCC or any associated organizations or agencies,”
he said.
“Having extensively consulted family, colleagues, and other interested groups and considered personal, professional, and political trajectory I humbly decline the nomination and distance myself from any current or future participation within CCC.”
he said.
Mazibisa said he would continue implementing development projects in the constituency under the Sindiso Mazibisa Foundation and Southern Stars Foundation to complement the government’s efforts to achieve the ambitious goal of becoming an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Political analyst Methuseli Moyo said that the criteria were always vague, generous, and open to all sorts of outcomes.
“It meant anybody could nominate anyone, without due verification of their status, membership or availability,”
he said.
Another analyst Kudakwashe Munemo said there was room for improvement.
“While it is good to be people driven, the people being nominated must confirm or decline at the point of being suggested by community members before the other subsequent processes, if that is not the case, to avoid such communication which may be projected as giving a vote of no confidence to the party,”
he said.
But Mahere said candidates were successfully vetted in the process.
“We can confirm that the process has proceeded smoothly. Candidates have been successfully nominated and vetted for each of these seats. Stakeholders have been consulted. We are currently at the citizen caucus stage where citizens will have a say on who will be the best representative for each respective community,”
she said.
“We are well on course to ensure the Citizens’ Movement is competently and ethically represented in every community of Zimbabwe. The citizens will have the opportunity to put a permanent end in the ballot box to the repression, persecution, hunger, and poverty created by ZANU PF.”
she said.
Party deputy secretary for elections Ellen Shiriyedenga told this publication that caucuses were currently in place in eight provinces.
The selection process saw the nomination of lawyers, resident leaders, and former councilors among other personalities in communities.
In Chitungwiza, Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association secretary Brighton Mazhindu and lawyer Frederick Masarirevu were nominated for St Mary’s Constituency.
Chitungwiza Residents Trust director Alice Kuveya was nominated for Zengeza West.
A couple of years ago Mazibisa was one of the country’s top lawyers, running a firm with over 20 lawyers — both junior and senior.
He made headlines in the newspaper in 2015 for the wrong reasons his Cheda and Partners law firm was shut down over US$350k fraud.
