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Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]

CITIZENS Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Mr Nelson Chamisa launched his party’s election manifesto in Bulawayo on Tuesday night, which is nothing short of endorsing policies and projects already being implemented by the ruling Zanu-PF Government.

Dubbed “The Great New Zimbabwe”, Mr Chamisa took nearly two hours trying to explain the uniqueness of his party’s manifesto and kept repeating himself on numerous occasions regarding the programmes he claims his government will implement to develop the country.

The manifesto contains numerous propositions including the implementation of the Hwange Power Station Unit 7 and 8 Expansion Project, which was officially commissioned by President Mnangagwa last week.

It also proposes to build the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, which is already being implemented by the Second Republic and is almost 70 percent complete. Government is in the process of constructing the 245KM Gwayi Shangani Bulawayo pipeline to bring water to Bulawayo.

The CCC manifesto speaks to the provision of free education, which the Zanu PF Government is already rolling out in 16 rural districts while 1,8 million pupils are covered through the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM).

The CCC manifesto further proposes to rehabilitate and modernise Munyati, Harare and Bulawayo Power Stations, which the Government has already secured funding for and are earmarked for rehabilitation in the short to medium term.

On road infrastructural development, CCC has pledged to rehabilitate and upgrade roads such as Beitbridge–Harare-Chirundu Highway, which the Government is already rehabilitating and so far, 435km have been opened tio traffic.

The CCC manifesto pledge to drill boreholes in rural areas but does not specify the actual numbers when compared to the Second Republic, which has introduced the Presidential Borehole Scheme targeting 35 000 villages countrywide.

President Mnangagwa launched the nutritional garden and solar borehole in Makorokoro, Mangwe District in December 2021, and the community is already enjoying the fruits.

Following on Zanu- PF’s devolution and decentralization policy, Mr Chamisa, speaking during the manifesto launch said his party was going to implement devolution of power.

Yet, under President Mnangagwa, Government has already decentralised national programmes while implementing devolution-driven projects with a budget from the Treasury that has led to more   localised development across the country. 

The decentralization drive has seen Bulawayo hosting the Independence Day commemoration in 2022 for the first time since 1980 while Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central hosted this year’s event.

“We want to prove to the world that not everything is defined in one city. We are bigger with all the cities being given national commitment, respect, honour and recognition,” said Mr Chamisa. 

“That is why we are launching our blueprint in Bulawayo. We cannot Hararerise everything. Let’s de-Hararerise government and make sure that we de-Hararerise provinces, policies, starting with Bulawayo,” he said.

Among other promises, Mr Chamisa said his party will introduce bullet trains, introduce a currency that is stronger than the US dollar while doing away with the 2013 Constitution and forcing Christianity upon everyone.

He said under his government, industries will operate 24 hours with three shifts operating on a daily basis.

“Do you know that in 1980 our Zimbabwean dollar was stronger than the US dollar at ZW$1 to US$1,50. We want to double that but we are not going to go there yet. We have to resuscitate our economy while using the US dollar as the currency of choice amongst the basket of currencies,” said Mr Chamisa.

CCC also wants to transform Zimbabwe into a Christian nation in violation of the freedom of worship as enshrined in the country’s Constitution.

“We will restore Zimbabwe back to God in honour, values, faith, worship and praise. We will give glory to                             God for all our victories, successes and gains. 

“We will restore the role of the church as the custodians and guardians of conscience, morals and ethics of society,” reads the manifesto.

“The church shall provide a campus to government speaking truth to power. In this regard, we will create a special mechanisms, structure and institution to facilitate for the role of the church in governance. 

“We shall dedicate nation, country, its people and resources to God for His glory. 

“We will rededicate Zimbabwe to God and rebuild the altar, covenant, decrees and ordinances.”

Political analyst Mr Teddy Ncube said the CCC manifesto is a clear endorsement of the Second Republic’s success.

He said the manifesto, however, fails to document how the party will fund the implementation of the projects.

“The CCC party’s manifesto appears to be promising to deliver what ZANU-PF has already addressed or is in the process of addressing through existing policies,” said Mr Ncube. 

“This raises questions about the originality of the CCC’s proposed actions.

“Furthermore, the manifesto seems to be overly simplistic, ignoring the complexities and operational side of governance. 

“It lacks details on how exactly these actions will be implemented and what resources and strategies will be employed. This raises doubts about the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed initiatives.”

Mr Ncube said the party’s manifesto raises concerns about the credibility and seriousness of the opposition ahead of the polls.

The party’s religious stance has also torched criticism from observers who say is an infringement on the people’s freedom of worship.