Sengezo Tshabangu and his associates have initiated contact with senior CCC MPs to peacefully resolve their impasse amicably.
On October 9, 2023, Sengezo Tshabangu, a former member of MDC-T and PDP, claimed to be the interim secretary general of the CCC and sent letters to the Speaker of Parliament and the Minister of Local Government, recalling 15 CCC MPs and 17 councillors, saying they were no longer members of the party.
The CCC denied that Tshabangu was a party member or official and said he was an impostor working with the ruling party, Zanu-PF, to destabilise the opposition. Jacob Mudenda accepted Tshabangu’s letters and declared the 15 seats vacant, paving the way for by-elections.
The affected CCC MPs filed a court appeal, challenging their recalls and accusing Tshabangu, Mudenda and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of fraud and violation of the constitution. On October 20, 2023, President Emmerson Mnangagwa proclaimed December 9 as the date for by-elections in the constituencies that became vacant due to the recalls.
The CCC said Mnangagwa’s proclamation indicated his involvement in the recalls and called it a constitutional crisis.
Tshabangu has now extended a hand to senior CCC legislators to solve the impasse. Journalist Hopewell Chin’ono reported that Tshabangu’s team has explained that they’ve intentionally delayed replacing proportional representation MPs. They hope to compel Nelson Chamisa to reinstate constitutionalism within the party.
Several CCC leaders confirmed that Tshabangu’s counsel also proposed an agreeable resolution that safeguards CCC from self-destruction and prevents ZANUPF from capitalising on internal discord.
Hopewell tweeted:
“Their main demands are a return to the leadership elected at the [MDC-T 2019] Gweru Congress, a return to constitutionalism and an accountable leadership guided by the party’s constitution. Nelson Chamisa insists that CCC is a new party without elected leaders except himself and the ones he has appointed.”
Social Media Exasperation
Zimbos had mixed emotions on X.
Chambi:
“Gweru congress was for the MDC Alliance not CCC.”
Chikanda:
“Tshabangu is a Zanu pf project, Mr Hopewell & you know. Nevertheless, from this chaos, a way out of it is holding an extraordinary congress, setting up structures with immediate effect before he recalls all CCC MPs.”
ZANU PF Patriots:
“We said it before, this is an internal fight. CCC leadership should fix its internal fights excluding us.”
Thabo:
“We are fighting the isiZanu system. Sadly, Nelson also has isiZanu & dictatorship tendencies. This should not be tolerated.”
Source iHarare
