Political analysts Monday commended Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa for supporting the land reform programme saying that it showed that his new political outfit was different from the MDC.
During the CCC weekend rally to launch its campaign for 26 March by-elections, Chamisa stated that he was in support of the land reform programme, except for the violent takeover of land. Said the former ICT minister:
I have come back to say Mugabe (the late former President Robert Mugabe), Nkomo (the late former Vice-President Joshua Nkomo, Tsvangirai (the late MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai) and Dabengwa (the late ZAPU president Dumiso Dabengwa), I have commenced finishing the work you started in Zimbabwe.
Triple C means Chimurenga CheZimbabwe Chechina. The first Chimurenga was a revolutionary uprising. The Second Chimurenga was about freedom and the Third Chimurenga was about giving land back to the people of Zimbabwe. I unreservedly agree with the land reform minus the other challenges of violence, but the fourth Chimurenga is now about restoring citizens’ dignity, freedom, liberation and democracy stolen by politicians.
Political analyst Methuseli Moyo said Chamisa’s remarks show that the CCC is aware that land is crucial to the politics of Zimbabwe and the party must, therefore, establish an authentic, intimate relationship with the issue and by extension the majority of voters. Moyo added:
That is a progressive move by CCC. Its predecessor, the MDC portrayed itself as anti-land reform and that retarded its appeal to a large section of voters.
Another analyst Farai Maguwu said there was a need to rationalise land reform and ensure the land is productive again while also resettling many landless citizens. Added Maguwu:
The speech resonated with the aspirations of Zimbabweans.
Another Political commentator, Vivid Gwede, said Chamisa’s backing of the land reform is a significant stance as ZANU PF had always constructed the main opposition as anti-land reform to escape criticism on how the land question was handled.
Gwede observed that the standpoint was not entirely new as it dates back to the Tsvangirai-led MDC adding that it was imperative for the CCC party to clarify its policy stance on the land issue.
Scholar Nhamo Mhiripiri added perceived rejection of Chimurenga, liberation and land reform has been the weak spot of the opposition’s ideologies.
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