Unpacking Power: How the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) under Nelson Chamisa Selected its Parliamentarians

This article delves into the under-researched topic of elite formation within Zimbabwe’s opposition parties. Using the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) as a case study, it explores the processes and networks that influence who is chosen for positions of power, investigating the criteria and methods employed by the CCC, when Nelson Chamisa was its leader, to select its parliamentary elite. The analysis reveals that the party relied heavily on a combination of informal institutional rules, personal connections to Chamisa, and shared educational background in terms of university degrees and bonds acquired as student activists. The article argues that this approach to elite formation results in a parliamentary leadership that is not representative of the broader Zimbabwean society, raising questions about internal party democracy and inclusivity in the opposition parties. Furthermore, the lack of formalised structures within the CCC strengthens its reliance on informal rules and leader discretion, potentially leading to internal tensions and a lack of transparency.