The political landscape in Zimbabwe continues to be a rollercoaster ride, with the latest twist involving the disbursement of state funds to political parties under the Political Parties (Finance) Act.
The beneficiary of this latest development is the self-proclaimed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction led by Sengezo Tshabangu, a move that has sparked controversy and raised eyebrows.
The Act, which provides for state funding of political parties with parliamentary representation, has seen both Zanu PF and CCC as the only recipients of the funds. Zanu PF, with its dominant 136 parliamentary seats, is joined by the CCC, which secured 73 seats in the last election.
However, the situation is far from straightforward. Tshabangu’s faction, which gained control of the CCC after a series of controversial events, has been embroiled in a bitter power struggle with the original CCC faction led by Jameson Timba. The Timba faction had argued that they were the rightful beneficiaries of the state funds, but their claims have been dismissed by the government.
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi confirmed that the government has already gazetted the disbursement of the funds to Tshabangu’s faction, stating, “Once there is the gazette, the process of disbursing the funds begins, the accounting officer Mrs Nyemba can give you more details.”
While Tshabangu couldn’t confirm that the funds had been deposited into their account, he did acknowledge receiving correspondence from the government regarding the matter. He confidently declared, “There is no question on who the rightful beneficiary of the political parties’ funds is. It’s very clear that we are the beneficiaries and that one is a closed chapter. We are receiving several correspondence from the government over the disbursement of the funds.”
When pressed for details on the amount and timing of the deposit, Tshabangu directed inquiries to his lawyer, Nqobani Sithole. However, Sithole, while acknowledging the existence of the other CCC faction, maintained that “There is nothing legal about that issue. We are aware that at some stage there were other individuals who identified themselves as CCC. But there are no two CCCs. There is only one, led by Welshman Ncube.”
Sithole also declined to comment on the specific details of the disbursement, stating that it was an administrative matter.
The Timba-led CCC has faced numerous legal setbacks in their attempts to prevent Tshabangu from seizing control of the party. Their claims that Tshabangu is a Zanu PF proxy, a charge he vehemently denies, have been met with little success.
The current situation is a stark reminder of the ongoing political turmoil in Zimbabwe. The CCC, once a beacon of hope for change, is now fractured and divided, with two factions vying for control of the party. The government’s decision to allocate state funds to Tshabangu’s faction, despite the ongoing legal battles, has further fuelled the controversy surrounding the party’s leadership.
The original CCC faction, led by Nelson Chamisa, who formed the party after losing control of the MDC Alliance to Douglas Mwonzora, has yet to announce their next political move. The party’s future remains uncertain, with the ongoing power struggle casting a shadow over its potential for change.
