Chamisa under pressure as critics question Agenda 2026 promises

Scrutiny is never far away for those in positions of power in the broader opposition movement, and Nelson Chamisa is no exception.

Nine months ago, Nelson Chamisa stepped out of his political sabbatical, announcing his return to lead the opposition.

His announcement came as ZANU PF was heightening its plot to push for constitutional amendments to extend the tenure of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Parliament and Council to 2030.

Chamisa came out of the shadows when other opposition leaders had failed to fill the vacuum that he had left after his departure from the Citizens Coalition for Change, which he accused of having been hijacked by ruling party elements.

The youthful leader vowed to stop ZANU PF in its tracks and prevent it from postponing elections and extending President Mnangagwa’s term.

It is one of the promises that he has missed, as the ruling party successfully saw the Constitutional Amendment Act Number 3 brought to light.

This has placed Chamisa under the microscope of political observers, who question him and the promised fulfilment of his Agenda 2026.

In a post on microblogging site X, Chamisa addressed those questioning his abilities.

“Leading a credible alternative and genuinely challenging an entrenched dictatorship is a demanding, costly and often perilous undertaking. It is certainly no walk in the park.

“It requires tenacity, conviction, courage, sacrifice and an unwavering commitment to the cause. Perhaps this is precisely why some find it easier to position themselves as the ‘opposition to the opposition’ rather than confront the difficult realities of challenging an entrenched system of power. It is less costly, less demanding, less stressful and certainly less risky to be the opposition to the opposition,” said Chamisa.

Chamisa has been blamed for failing to turn his political capital, which saw him garnering more than one million votes in 2017, to account.

This has left the ruling party in control of the political space, with the opposition in the National Assembly resembling the proverbial sheep without a shepherd.

Chamisa said the performances in the 2018 and 2023 national elections speak to how he led the opposition.

“We contested elections and doubled the opposition vote, even under conditions that were neither free nor fair. That record speaks for itself and cannot simply be rewritten or wished away.

“The MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai has its home at Harvest House, with its own leadership, party colours, slogans and institutional property. These are matters of public record.

“I have no interest in endless arguments over history or political ownership. Everyone should respect the facts, acknowledge the record and move on,” said Chamisa.