A significant rift within Zimbabwe’s largest opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has widened, with 61 legislators – 50 MPs and 11 senators – publicly declaring their allegiance to a faction aligned with former party leader Nelson Chamisa.
This development comes amidst a protracted power struggle following Chamisa’s departure from the party leadership last year.
The CCC, once a unified force, has fragmented into three factions vying for control. These factions are led by Jameson Timba (a close Chamisa ally), Welshman Ncube, and self-proclaimed secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu.
The party’s parliamentary representation has also shrunk considerably, currently comprising 88 MPs and 27 senators, following a series of controversial recalls initiated by Tshabangu starting in September 2023.
The 61 legislators who have now issued a communiqué, seen by The Standard, represent a substantial portion of the remaining CCC parliamentary presence. Their statement directly addresses the contentious proposal to extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term in office by two years, pushing the next election to 2030.
The communiqué unequivocally rejects this proposal: “We, the undersigned opposition Members of Parliament, categorically deny any alliance or collaboration with the ruling party or its proxies to extend the mandate of the sitting resident and Parliament by another two years till 2030 without the holding of democratic elections which are due in 2028,” it reads.
The statement further denounces this move as a violation of democratic principles and the Zimbabwean constitution, specifically referencing comments made by Charles Moyo in the media as potentially reflecting the aspirations of a faction not representing the broader democratic will of the Zimbabwean people.
Agency Gumbo, shadow Justice minister in the Timba-led faction, provided further insight into the divisions within the party. He explained to The Standard that the 61 legislators do not recognise Ncube and Tshabangu as their leaders.
He highlighted a key point of contention: “There are some MPs who came into Parliament at the benevolence of Sengezo Tshabangu, who have taken a stance to negotiate with Zanu PF on the much debated 2030 agenda,” Gumbo stated.
He emphasised the decision of his faction to publicly declare their stance: “We saw it necessary to take a position. As the MPs who belong to the real CCC, which had its colleagues removed from Parliament decided to make a bold statement. So we told the MPs that if you stand with us, come out in the open and let’s unite to push back the 2030 agenda.”
The divisions are further underscored by the differing responses to a recent visit to President Mnangagwa’s Precabe farm. Gumbo confirmed that legislators aligned with his faction did not participate in this tour, which Tshabangu had promoted as a platform for dialogue with Mnangagwa and Zanu PF.
The remaining 38 MPs and 16 senators have not yet publicly declared their allegiance to any specific faction, leaving the future of the CCC and its role in the Zimbabwean political landscape uncertain.
