CCC in-infighting gets nasty as Tshabangu reports veteran lawyer Welshman Ncube to Law Society of Zimbabwe, wants him deregistered?

A bitter power struggle within the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has escalated, with self-imposed secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu lodging a formal complaint against acting president Welshman Ncube with the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ). Tshabangu alleges that Ncube improperly pressured his legal team, leading to their withdrawal from his Supreme Court appeal.

The dispute stems from a High Court ruling that barred Tshabangu from making changes within Parliament. This ruling followed Ncube’s challenge to Tshabangu’s decision to recall several elected officials and parliamentary portfolio committee members. Tshabangu subsequently appealed the High Court decision to the Supreme Court.

However, on the eve of the Supreme Court hearing, Tshabangu’s lawyers from Ncube and Attorneys unexpectedly withdrew their services. Tshabangu asserts this was a direct result of pressure exerted by Ncube.

He stated, “I have just received the legal advice which concludes that what happened deserves the attention of the Law Society of Zimbabwe as the regulatory body. I am still looking at it. The background facts set out in the legal opinion are jaw-dropping. For now, the contents of the opinion are protected by attorney-client privilege.”

The alleged interference centres around Nqobani Sithole, a lawyer from Ncube and Attorneys who represented Tshabangu since 2023 in various cases against the Ncube-led CCC. Tshabangu argues that Ncube’s displeasure stemmed from Sithole’s representation in the Supreme Court appeal, citing a close relationship between Ncube and a senior partner at Ncube and Attorneys. This relationship, Tshabangu maintains, created a conflict of interest.

Sources within Tshabangu’s camp claim that Sithole resisted Ncube’s pressure to abandon the case, ultimately leading to Sithole’s resignation from Ncube and Attorneys. A source revealed, “The tactic was to embarrass Advocate (Lewis) Uriri on the day of the hearing that when the judge asked who his instructors were, he would point to those from Ncube and Attorneys and they would disown him. For Nqobani to continue to represent him, he had to register his own law firm, but Professor Ncube threatened to frustrate the efforts.”

This account suggests a deliberate attempt to undermine Tshabangu’s legal representation on the eve of a crucial hearing. The source’s statement implies a calculated strategy to discredit Tshabangu’s legal team.

When contacted for comment, Ncube offered a brief, “I will comment on that in due time.” However, CCC spokesperson Willias Madzimure dismissed Tshabangu’s allegations, stating, “We are just dealing with his Supreme Court appeal. If you look at Professor Ncube, do you think he would be intimidated by Tshabangu so that he could engage in underhand tactics? He can’t do that. The problem is that Tshabangu has nothing to do. He has no party to lead, so at the end of the day, he just fights people to while up his idleness.”

Madzimure’s response portrays Tshabangu’s actions as frivolous and politically motivated. This statement frames Tshabangu’s actions as a distraction from a lack of political purpose.

Tshabangu’s spokesperson, Nqobizitha Mlilo, countered these claims, asserting that Tshabangu had repeatedly attempted reconciliation with Ncube. Mlilo stated, “To be clear though, Senator Tshabangu has never been the one to escalate the conflict. So many times he has tried to de-escalate the conflict and all the points of difference . . . At least three meetings have been held between the parties to find a compromise solution. In all meetings, Senator Tshabangu was prepared to compromise. Senator Tshabangu never intended to restructure Parliament. He was reacting to something done somewhere, by someone. He has no inherent problems with mother (Mai Karenyi-Kore). Mai Kore is a warm and motherly woman. She is caught up in toxicity.”

Mlilo’s statement portrays Tshabangu as a peacemaker, consistently seeking resolution and refuting accusations of initiating conflict. The reference to “Mai Kore” suggests a broader context to the internal conflict within the party. However, Mlilo declined to elaborate on the specific actions Tshabangu was reacting to.