CCC interim secretary-general, Chalton Hwende said that the opposition party cannot hold an elective congress before 2023 harmonised elections because it doesn’t have the funds for the event.
This comes barely a week after CCC interim deputy spokesperson, Gift Siziba claimed they will not hold a congress because they feared infiltration by ZANU PF and State security agents.
However, Hwende said CCC doesn’t have the huge sums of money needed to hold a congress as well as for election campaigns. Said Hwende:
The two biggest cost centres in a political party are: 1. Congress 2. General Elections.
There is no sane party that holds both events in the same year because to have a congress for CCC you need US$2 million and an election, a minimum of US$150 million. Politics is a very expensive game.
We are less than 12 months before an election, and the three critical priority areas are 1. Voter registration 2 Candidates selection and polling agents training 3. Fundraising.
Former ZANU PF politburo member Jonathan Moyo mocked the opposition party over its decision to not hold a congress. He tweeted:
(Before By-Elections) THEM: We are a new party with no constitution and no ideology. We have no officials but one; all other positions are vacant!
(After By-Elections) THEM: We have no vacancies, no congress before the 2023 polls. We want to win power!
PUBLIC EYE: Suit yourselves.