Sengezo Tshabangu takes on Parliamentary role after appointing himself Senator
In a surprising turn of events, Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-imposed interim secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has appointed himself as a senator. This comes just six months after Tshabangu took control of the opposition political party and gained notoriety for recalling lawmakers and councillors.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) announced the nomination of Tshabangu and other politicians from various provinces to fill the vacancies in the Senate resulting from the recalls.
Zec chairperson Priscilla Chigumba made the announcement in a notice published in the Government Gazette. The CCC’s nominations were listed, inviting objections from the public within a 14-day period from the publication date. Objections must be submitted in writing to the chief elections officer in Harare, stating the reasons for the objection.
Tshabangu’s name appeared alongside the names of politicians from Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Masvingo, and Manicaland in the gazette.
The Senate vacancies arose when Tshabangu, in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda on October 3, 2023, announced the recall of 14 legislators, including proportional representation MPs mainly from Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, and Bulawayo provinces.
Tshabangu defended his decision to recall CCC’s elected candidates, alleging that many of them were imposed by unidentified party officials from Harare. He specifically criticized the imposition of candidates from outside their respective constituencies, citing examples of candidates from Masvingo and Manicaland.
Among the individuals singled out by Tshabangu were Cowdray Park MP Pashor Sibanda and Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart, whom he accused of benefiting from the imposition of candidates.
As Tshabangu assumes his role in Parliament, his appointment raises questions and sparks interest in the political landscape. The coming days will likely see public reactions and potential objections to the nominations, adding further intrigue to the unfolding political dynamics in Zimbabwe.
