The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has appointed Professor Welshman Ncube as the acting president of the party as he is the ‘most senior’ of the party’s three Vice Presidents within the context of the opposition’s leadership.
Prof Ncube will hold the position of Acting President position on a 90-day rotation basis, with the other two Vice Presidents, Tendai Biti and Lynette Karenyi-Kore taking turns in that role until CCC holds its anticipated elective congress sometime this year.
“By record of the May 2019 Gweru Congress, and within the context of the leadership of the party as at 22 January 2022, Professor Welshman Ncube is the most senior of the Vice Presidents. In consequence thereof, the NSC resolved to, with immediate effect, appoint Professor Welshman Ncube as the Acting President,” announced Acting CCC spokesperson Jacob Mafume at a press conference held in Bulawayo on Saturday.
“Professor Welshman Ncube will be the Acting President for 90 days calculated from the day following the appointment. “
Mafume said CCC aimed to “de-invidualise” the opposition and show leadership because the acting president will have to build confidence building and consult stakeholders including the aggrieved.
“The Acting President will, forthwith, lead a confidence-building process, reassuring the party membership and stakeholders to reposition the democratic agenda,” he said.
“This engagement process will involve deliberations with all aggrieved individuals or groups of people to secure consensus for an inclusive and value-driven people’s agenda. This engagement process will involve deliberations with all aggrieved individuals or/and groups of people to secure consensus for an inclusive and value-driven people’s agenda.”
Mafume stated that the NSC reemphasized the need to maintain party unity and cohesion in the wake of Chamisa’s resignation and the Acting President’s delayed appointment.
“This negatively impacts the generality of our membership, and the people of Zimbabwe more generally,” said the acting spokesperson.
“The Acting President bears the responsibility to steer the party towards democratic transition, securing a prosperous Zimbabwe.”
According to Mafume, the appointment of Prof Ncube and the resumption of duties by all office bearers based on 2019 structures “marks the beginning of an uninterrupted path to restore stability and democracy within the party.”
“The NSC re-emphasises that all deployees of the party in various positions and public office bearers should continue to perform their duties for the betterment of our people,” he said.
Mafume, also Harare mayor, said people now needed to see leadership play out from the opposition as an alternative government.
“It is evident that the cholera outbreak has caused unnecessary loss of life, inflation is increasingly out of control thereby eroding ordinary people’s disposable income, and that the current government is unable to arrest all these serious problems,” he said.
“Our deployees in parliament and in the local government should keep deliberate focus on these important issues, to better the lives of our people.”
Regarding the parliamentary leadership appointments, Mafume said the party’s Parliamentary Caucus also met on February 15, 2024, and selected Karenyi-Kore as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament.
“Along with other positions, this will be communicated to the Speaker of Parliament appropriately,” he said.
