HARARE – Prominent constitutional lawyer Thabani Mpofu has urged opposition leader Nelson Chamisa to tread cautiously in his engagement with certain segments of his support base, particularly those who may not be ideologically aligned with him but still support his political rise as a means to unseat Zanu-PF.
In a detailed commentary posted on X (formerly Twitter), Mpofu, who is also Chamisa’s popular lawyer, highlighted what he described as a “strategically important constituency” within Chamisa’s broader support network, voters who are driven less by personal loyalty and more by a shared desire to end decades of Zanu-PF rule.
These supporters, he said, often stem from the middle class and elite circles, groups that possess greater access to information, influence, and political leverage.
“From a rational choice perspective, these Zimbabweans engage in a calculated form of instrumental support—they do not embrace Chamisa uncritically but rather view him as the most viable alternative to the incumbent regime,” Mpofu stated.
“Their political engagement is thus characterized by conditional loyalty, tempered by skepticism born from repeated disappointments with opposition politics over time.
“This manifests in a cautious, sometimes cynical posture, often expressed through a retrospective “I told you so’ attitude when opposition efforts falter.
“Such responses can be interpreted as coping mechanisms that help manage political disillusionment while preserving hope for systemic change.”
Mpofu stated that while such voters may not rally behind Chamisa with emotional fervour, they view him as the most viable alternative in a political system they perceive as skewed.
Their support, according to Mpofu, is rational, strategic, and contingent on Chamisa’s ability to maintain credibility and inspire confidence in opposition politics.
Mpofu warned that dismissing or alienating this constituency would be a strategic error.
“Burning bridges with these voters risks not only immediate electoral losses but also the erosion of a critical constituency that aspires to democratic transformation,” he said.
He characterised this group as politically ambivalent yet essential, arguing that their conditional support reflects a broader trend in opposition politics under authoritarian regimes.
“They are rational actors who desire change, yet remain sensitive to political setbacks. Unlike the masses, they have options beyond political change,” he explained.
Mpofu further stated that understanding the nuance of this support base was critical for building inclusive, broad-based coalitions.
“The fact that you do not understand them does not make them wrong, much as the fact that you believe in your passion does not make you right,” he said.
“At the end of it all, Chamisa remains by far our best foot forward.”
Chamisa dumped the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party in January last year claiming that it had been infiltrated by the Zanu-PF.
