Harare (New Ziana) –As the turmoil in the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) continues, the faction led by acting president Welshman Ncube has suspended controversial interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu with immediate effect pending disciplinary action.
In a statement dated January 8, 2025, party spokesperson Kurauone Chihwayi said Ncube had suspended Tshabangu pending disciplinary action which would be conducted in accordance with the party’s internal processes. “Acting in terms of Article 9.1.2.3 of the CCC Constitution, the Acting President Welshman Ncube has suspendd Sengezo Tshabangu with immediate effect.
This decision was made in light of Tshabangu’s actions, which were deemed to be in contravention of the party’s constitution,” he said.
The move follows the ruling on Wednesday by High Court Judge Justice Neville Wamambo interdicting Tshabangu from recalling or “purporting to issue any letter of recall of any member of the National Assembly, Senate or local authority elected under the applicant or CCC ticket.”
Justice Wamambo, who on 31 December last year reserved judgement on the matter, also interdicted Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda from effecting any recalls made by Tshabangu.
The CCC dragged Tshabangu to court after he reshuffled party officials in Parliamentary Portfolio Committees, including deputy president Lynete Karenyi-Kore and Edwin Mushoriwa whom he removed as leader of the and chief whip in Parliament respectively. Another CCC faction led by Jameson Timba joined the court case in a bid to reclaim the party from Tshbangu.
Tshabangu, who previously had been stopped from effecting any recalls pending determination of the party leadership wrangle, had sought to circumvent the court order by effecting the redeployments, a move the CCC successfully argued was tantamount to recall.
Meanwhile Tshabangu on Wednesday said he would appeal the ruling, arguing that it was not sustainable at law. “There are reasonable grounds that another court, a court of appeal, will come to a different conclusion and set aside the judgement,” he said on social media.
Tshabangu took control of the CCC in 2022 after he emerged from nowhere and declared himself the interim secretary general, seizing on the lack of clear structures as party leader Nelson Chamisa pursued a policy of “strategic ambiguity,” ostensibly to prevent infiltration by the enemy.
He went on to effect recalls of MPs, Senators and councillors, resulting in Chamisa abandoning the party in a huff.
The party has splintered into a number of factions including one aligned to Chamisa and led by Primrose Mkwananzi, one led by Timba and the one led by Ncube, leaving its supporters confused and disillusioned.
New Ziana