The crisis within the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has intensified as interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu threatened to recall more legislators and councillors who comply with opposition party leader Nelson Chamisa’s directive to disengage from Parliament and local authorities.
Chamisa had recently announced that his party would temporarily disengage from council and parliamentary business in protest against the recall of 15 MPs and 17 councillors by Tshabangu, whom he described as an impostor and a proxy for Zanu PF. Parliament had already implemented the recalls based on Tshabangu’s letter.
Chamisa issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Zanu PF-led government, demanding that they address what he deemed “illegal” recalls. If the government failed to respond within the given time frame, Chamisa threatened to completely withdraw his party from Parliament and local government.
In response, Tshabangu warned in another letter that he would not hesitate to recall any legislator who boycotted parliamentary business. He specifically instructed members of the Senate to continue attending all parliamentary programs and activities without fail. Tshabangu emphasized that non-compliance would lead to immediate recalls and redeployment from Parliament or local authorities. He further stated that he would require medical reports from those who failed to attend Parliament or council business due to health reasons.
Meanwhile, top CCC officials, led by organizing secretary Amos Chibaya, delivered the party’s resolution on disengagement to Parliament. Tshabangu defended the recalls of the 15 legislators from the Matabeleland region, claiming they were products of a rigged internal electoral process. He stated that the recalls were necessary to stand up for justice and truth, as those MPs were elected through a fraudulent and corrupt internal electoral process.
However, Chamisa accused Tshabangu of collaborating with Zanu PF to undermine the choices of opposition supporters. Tshabangu’s spokesperson, Khaliphani Phugeni, dismissed these claims as groundless, asserting that accusations were often made to discredit genuine grievances.
Chamisa revealed that his party had engaged the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Zanu PF for a round-table discussion to resolve the political controversies arising from the disputed election results of August 23 and 24. He confirmed that his party’s elected officials would continue to disengage from government and local authorities until all the recalled members were reinstated.
As the crisis in the CCC deepened, Zanu PF accused Chamisa of pursuing secret talks with President Emmerson Mnangagwa without the knowledge of other party members. Zanu PF national spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa claimed that Chamisa had sent emissaries to Mnangagwa to initiate these talks, but the President rejected them, insisting on proper dialogue involving Chamisa’s fellow party members such as Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube.
The CCC remains embroiled in a deepening crisis as Tshabangu threatens further recalls, Chamisa demands the reinstatement of recalled members, and allegations of secret talks between Chamisa and Mnangagwa emerge. The situation is tense and ongoing, with both sides engaged in a battle for political control.
