A former MDC-T Matabeleland North provincial chairperson and PDP official Sengezo Tshabangu, believed to have signed letters that produced opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) double candidates during elections claiming he was the party’s interim Secretary General, has written to the Speaker of Parliament and Local Government Minister purporting to recall CCC MPs and councillors.
While the CCC has no structures, Tshabangu is claiming to be the party’s Interim Secretary General and intends to recall 15 CCC MPs and 17 councillors.
The ruling Zanu-PF, in the 2023 harmonised general elections, failed to achieve the two-thirds majority it sought in Parliament, winning 136 of the 209 National Assembly seats contested, with the CCC managing 73.
The CCC performed better than in the 2018 election when it contested as the MDC Alliance as it gained 10 more elected seats while Zanu PF lost nine.
Zanu-PF, in 2018 garnered 145 seats, gaining a two-thirds majority against the then-MDC Alliance’s 63 seats.
The CCC has however advised the public to disregard Tshabangu’s letter. The party further advised its MPs and councillors to continue to discharge their responsibilities.
“It has come to the attention of the Citizens Coalition for Change that there are letters purportedly written by a person designating himself as interim secretary General circulating on social media claiming that the Citizens’ Movement has recalled named councillors and members of Parliament.
“Members of the public are advised to disregard these with the contempt they deserve. The CCC party has neither recalled nor does it intend to recall any of its recently elected deployees.
The purported author of the two letters, Sengezo Tshabangu is not and has never been a member or official of the CCC party since its inception. He’s last known parties are MDCT and PDP.
“He is renowned for being the proxy of fielding fake CCC double candidates in Bulawayo and Matebeleland North. The Citizens’ Movement is taking action against this impostor and all his contacts.
“This deplorable behavior by Zanu PF is a response to their defeat in 2023 and rejection by Zimbabwe and a pathetic attempt to respond to the exercise of our freedom of association in not attending the official opening of parliament yesterday (03 October 2023).
“Meanwhile, our deployees in local authorities and Parliament should continue to discharge their responsibilities as mandated by the electorate in the just ended elections.”
Exiled former cabinet Minister Walter Mzembi believes that Tshabangu is being sent by Zanu-PF to help the ruling party to achieve the two thirds majority they craved in Parliament.
“The cruel and crude hunt for a 2/3 majority begins. It will take all forms, shapes and modes. Be careful where you eat what you eat, watch your rearview mirrors, be super careful on the road, who you date and sleep with, this is in addition to these recalls,” he said.
Zanu-PF wants a two thirds majority in order to pass laws and critical decisions without the approval of the opposition.
Its thought this will also allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to amend the constitution to allow him to run for a third 5-year term.