CCC interim secretary-general suspended pending disciplinary hearing
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) standing committee has taken the decision to suspend interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu with immediate effect, pending a disciplinary hearing. The suspension comes after Tshabangu failed to attend crucial meetings, according to a statement released by CCC interim committee deputy chairperson Albert Mhlanga.
Mhlanga expressed the committee’s concern over Tshabangu’s repeated absence from meetings despite receiving invitations. Additionally, Tshabangu submitted a replacement list for the Bulawayo Senate and proportional representation to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) without the approval of the interim standing committee. These actions led to the decision to suspend Tshabangu.
“The CCC interim standing committee sat on February 21 amid a great concern about the appointed CCC interim secretary-general Tshabangu for not attending our meetings on several occasions (despite) invitations [being sent] to him and further went on to submit a Bulawayo Senate and proportional representation replacement list to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) that was not agreed upon by the interim standing committee in our last meeting,” stated Mhlanga.
The CCC interim committee also declared null and void the announcement made by Harare mayor Jacob Mafume, who appointed Welshman Ncube as the interim president based on the 2019 Gweru congress. According to Mhlanga, this move established a separate party known as CCC-Welshman, while the CCC party that recalled members, appointed Tshabangu, and was led by former President Nelson Chamisa remains the formalized CCC.
Mhlanga clarified that the interim chairman Dingilizwe Tshuma would lead the party for the next 90 days until a congress date is set. He further criticized Tshabangu for engaging with Mafume, Ncube, and Tendai Biti, who were not part of the interim standing committee that appointed him as the CCC interim secretary-general.
Moreover, the CCC camp denounced the Bulawayo Senate and Proportional Representation replacement list submitted by Tshabangu to Zec. Mhlanga emphasized that all elected Members of Parliament, council, and senate should continue their duties until the end of their term and consult with stakeholders and citizens for the way forward.
“With immediate effect, the CCC party has suspended the CCC interim secretary-general Tshabangu pending a disciplinary hearing.
“We have realised that Tshabangu was only looking for positions through securing our signature to endorse him as the secretary. We had agreed that the recalls would only be effected in Bulawayo to deal with those elected but coming from outside Bulawayo but to our surprise Tshabangu decided on his own to go beyond Bulawayo,” Mhlanga stated.
Mhlanga accused Tshabangu of overstepping his authority by recalling individuals in Mashonaland provinces without proper consultation. He criticized Tshabangu for surpassing the initial agreement and imposing his own choices, highlighting that parties formed outside Bulawayo tend to fail. Mhlanga reiterated that the CCC leadership is an interim national structure awaiting a congress.
The disciplinary hearing will determine the outcome of Tshabangu’s suspension and shed further light on the internal dynamics and power struggles within the CCC. As the party prepares for its congress, the decisions made in the coming months will shape the future direction of the CCC and its role in Zimbabwean politics.
