Chalton Hwende
Chalton Hwende | |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | Chalton Hwende |
| Political party | Citizens Coalition for Change |
Chalton Hwende is a Zimbabwean politician and Member of Parliament for Kuwadzana East representing the Citizens Coalition for Change. He was elected on 26 March 2022 after being recalled from parliament by the Thokozani Khupe led MDC-T. He is the CCC Secretary-General.
In early March 2019, Hwende was arrested and charged with treason for his supposed role in the January 2019 violent protests. He was granted bail on 8 March by the High Court in Harare.
Personal Details
Born: Chegutu
School / Education
Primary education:Pfupajena Primary School.
Service/Career
In the 2013 Elections, (see A History of Zimbabwean Elections) Chegutu West returned to Parliament:
- Dexter Nduna of Zanu PF with 11 130 votes or 57.19 percent,
- Chalton Hwende of MDC–T with 7 399 votes or 38.02 percent,
- Tagwireyi Ngwenya of MDC–N with 722 votes or 3.71 percent,
- Ernest Mudimu, Independent, with 212 votes or 1.09 percent,
Total 19 463 votes
In July 2018 he contested the Kuwadzana East MP seat and won. The contest to become the representative for MDC Alliance was controversial as Shakespeare Mukoyi, the leader of MDC-T’s vanguard, was also interested in the Kuwadzana seat in the primaries. Eventually, Mukoyi pulled out, with speculation suggesting he had been paid off by MDC Alliance President Nelson Chamisa and Hwende himself.
He won the Kuwadzana East seat in Harare Metropolitan Province for CCC.
See 2022 March By-election Winners in Zimbabwe.
In the 2022 By-Elections, (see Zimbabwe By-elections (March_2022)) Kuwadzana East returned to Parliament:
- Chalton Hwende of Citizens' Coalition For Change with 5 238 votes.
- Ernest Kudzaishe Chagadama of Zanu PF with 1 311 votes,
- Urayayi Mangwiro of MDC Alliance with 146 votes,
- Chamunorwa David Kachidza of UZA with 98 votes,
- Jedediah K.S. Chigariro of UDA with 39 votes,
- Selentino Majiri of Patriotic Zimbabweans with 26 votes.
In October 2023, Hwende was named the new Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts in the 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe.
Events
2019 Arrest and Treason Charges
On 5 March 2019, Charlton Hwende was arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport upon his arrival from Namibia. Hwende had been in Namibia for some time following apparent indications that he was on a police wanted list. Other reports, however, suggested he had been receiving medical attention in Namibia.
He was charged with treason for his supposed role in the January 2019 violent protests. Hwende was initially denied bail at the Harare magistrate's court and was eventually granted bail at the High Court on 8 March 2019.
Criticism
In July 2016, he was criticised heavily on social media for what was referred to as reckless statements discouraging Zimbabweans from participating in a 2 day stay away called for by Pastor Evan Mawarire of the ThisFlag movement.
Said Hwende:
After the Baba Jukwa experience and then Pastor Makandiwa's weekend prophesy, our supporters must not be misled by Pastors working with Zanu-PF wage a fake revolution. #tajamuka is going to organise more mass protests but not this Wednesday. Dates will be announced"
