Opposition turmoil fuels fears of increased repression in Zimbabwe

HARARE - Turmoil in the opposition which was triggered by the resignation of Nelson Chamisa from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) will create a space for the government to escalate human rights abuses, a local watchdog has said.

Chamisa dumped the CCC last month saying it had been hijacked by Zanu PF.

Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) in its monthly monitoring report says the resignation of Chamisa, leaving the opposition in disarray will increase the chances of rights abuses by Zanu PF.

“The ambiguous nature of Nelson Chamisa’s political moves and the uncertainty of his next steps after withdrawing from CCC has put the state repressive machinery on high alert, heightening possibilities of the proliferation of human rights violations.

“Partisan distribution of food aid and inputs and intimidation of opposition political party supporters are likely to increase as a result. The ZANU PF government is also likely to accelerate its assault on the opposition in a bid to decimate it, further shrinking democratic space for both opposition and civil society operations. Chamisa’s withdrawal from CCC may also result in an increase in intra-party violence as rivals jostle to fill the vacancy he left,” read the report.

After resigning as CCC president, Chamisa has remained mum on his next political move.

His silence has also left the opposition members of parliament and councillors in limbo.

ZPP said Sengezo Tshabangu instigated recalls of elected officials pointing to the decimation of opposition and the creation of a one-party State.

Concerns were also raised on how the country is in election mode barely six months after a general plebiscite.

This, according to ZPP, affects service delivery, especially in the local authorities.