Former Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has indicated that figures associated with his former party will not be part of his newly launched political initiative, marking a decisive break from the past.
Chamisa returned to the political arena on Friday with the launch of Agenda 2026, which he described as a broad-based citizens’ movement focused on mobilising ordinary Zimbabweans ahead of the next general election.
Addressing journalists, Chamisa said the new initiative would be driven from the grassroots, urging supporters to organise peacefully within their communities. He stressed that Agenda 2026 would not inherit old party structures or personalities from the CCC, arguing that a new political vision required a complete reset.
According to Chamisa, the future demands fresh thinking and leadership, using a biblical metaphor to underline his point that old systems cannot carry a new mission. He made it clear that continuity with the CCC was not on the table.
Chamisa also defended his long-standing strategy of what he terms “strategic ambiguity,” where party structures and leadership roles are not openly disclosed. He claimed the approach had strengthened internal cohesion and protected the movement from interference.
He argued that supporters understood how the movement operated, while the lack of publicly visible structures frustrated political opponents seeking to undermine it. In his view, the strategy was designed to shield the organisation rather than confuse its base.
However, official election results contradict Chamisa’s assertion that the CCC won the 2023 elections. Figures released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission show that President Emmerson Mnangagwa of ZANU-PF secured 52.6 percent of the presidential vote, while Chamisa garnered 44 percent.
ZANU-PF also emerged victorious in the parliamentary race, winning 136 out of 210 seats, compared to 73 seats won by the CCC. One constituency seat remained vacant following the death of a candidate.
Despite the disputed electoral outcome, Chamisa maintains that Agenda 2026 represents a new political chapter, distinct from past formations and aimed at reshaping Zimbabwe’s political landscape.
