The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has expelled self-styled interim secretary-general and senator Sengezo Tshabangu, who now faces a potential recall from the Senate.
Tshabangu appeared before the party’s National Disciplinary Committee on February 12, 2025, where he was charged with four counts of misconduct relating to his actions between November and December 2024.
According to a statement from CCC spokesperson Willias Madzimure issued on Wednesday, 19 February, the charges stemmed from Tshabangu’s decision to unilaterally alter the party’s Parliamentary Portfolio without the approval of the President or any other authorized organ of the party.
In addition, Tshabangu was accused of making derogatory public remarks about acting president Welshman Ncube after he had already been suspended from the party.
Madzimure said Tshabangu’s actions violated Clause 9.1.2.3 of the CCC Constitution, which outlines the party’s rules and regulations.
He further condemned Tshabangu’s behaviour, stating that it had damaged the party’s reputation and shown a “brazen defiance” of the authority of Ncube, as well as other key party organs, including the National Standing Committee, National Executive Committee, and National Council.
Tshabangu, who was represented by party legislator and lawyer Kucaca Phulu during the hearing, was found guilty on all four charges. Said Madzimure:
<blockquote>
Having found Sengezo Tshabangu guilty of all the charges, and having regard to the gravity of the acts of misconduct of which the Committee convicted him, the Committee decided to sentence him to expulsion from the party with immediate effect.
</blockquote>

Pindula News

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) kicked out Sengezo Tshabangu for his bad behavior. Tshabangu changed party things without permission and said mean things about the leader. The party didn't like this and said he broke the party's rules. Tshabangu was then thrown out of the party. The party was not happy with what he did because it made the party look bad and he didn't listen to the leader. Tshabangu was found guilty and now he is no longer part of the party.

Welshman Ncube Expels Tshabangu From CCC Over Misconduct

The opposition CCC has called for the postponement of the next harmonised elections from 2028 to 2030, arguing that this will allow for the smooth implementation of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which is currently being formulated and expected to be launched in November this year.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/defer-polls-to-2030-for-continued-development-ccc/">The Herald</a> on Wednesday, CCC chief whip Charles Moyo said the party is proposing dialogue with ZANU PF to work together on the possible postponement of the elections. He said:
<blockquote>
As CCC, we are lobbying for the deferment of elections and proposing dialogue with the revolutionary party ZANU PF.
</blockquote>
ZANU PF chief whip in the National Assembly, Pupurai Togarepi, said the ruling party will consider the deferment if the CCC brings a motion on the issue to Parliament. Said Togarepi:
<blockquote>
That’s their view (deferment of elections), it is allowed in a mature democracy. When the motion comes to Parliament, we will scrutinise the mover’s prayer for its reasonableness and allow all Parliamentary processes before we take a position.
I am happy that they recognise the importance of various Government policies such as NDS blueprints to the development of Zimbabwe.
Let’s cross the bridge when we get there. We have always supported progressive and objective ideas brought forward during debates in Parliament.
</blockquote>
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the Constitution would be amended to extend the President’s term if the majority of Zimbabweans wish for it. He added:
<blockquote>
… Zimbabwe is a democracy and no law is cast in  stone except the 10 Commandments. So, the law can be changed if that’s what the majority of Zimbabweans want.
</blockquote>
Political commentators assert that the capture of CCC by ZANU PF through their “proxy,” Sengezo Tshabangu, has always been part of a plan to amend the constitution to extend Mnangagwa’s term in office and create a de facto one-party state where the opposition exists only in name.
Tshabangu emerged unexpectedly in October 2023, seized control of CCC with the help of the courts, and fired several of the party’s legislators, claiming to be the party’s interim secretary-general.
Since then, Tshabangu has “ousted” the party’s founding president, Nelson Chamisa, from CCC and is currently in a power struggle with Welshman Ncube for control of the party.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The opposition CCC wants to postpone the next election from 2028 to 2030. They say it will help with the National Development Strategy. They want to work with ZANU PF on this. ZANU PF says they will think about it if CCC brings a motion to Parliament. Some people think ZANU PF is trying to control CCC and extend President Mnangagwa's term. There is a power struggle in CCC between Sengezo Tshabangu and Welshman Ncube. The Constitution can be changed if most Zimbabweans want it.

CCC Calls For Election Postponement To 2030

Political commentator Brighton Mutebuka has hit back at Freeman Chari’s assertion that Nelson Chamisa, the former leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), personalised the movement with his doctrine of “Strategic Ambiguity.”
Chari, a veteran opposition activist based in the United States, who has had extensive involvement with MDC, MDC-T, MDC Alliance, and CCC, claimed that when the movement was first founded, there was a collective consensus on the importance of having a constitution and structured organisation.
However, he argued that Chamisa’s principle of Strategic Ambiguity led to the abandonment of those initial agreements, effectively disregarding the foundational promises.
In a sharp response posted on X, Mutebuka accused Chari of exposing sensitive, private discussions to the public. He criticized Chari for breaking confidentiality and airing internal matters outside the party.
Mutebuka further revealed that Chamisa was never interested in working with former senior MDC officials who had left the party under the leadership of the late Morgan Tsvangirai.
Notable figures such as Welshman Ncube, Tendai Biti, and Job Sikhala, who departed at various points, later returned to join the MDC Alliance—something Mutebuka suggests Chamisa did not fully support. Wrote Mutebuka:
<blockquote>
For the record, we all agreed on the fundamentals. Where we differ is our understanding of the dynamics involved &amp; how to resolve them.
Confidential &amp; private discussions should always be kept under lock &amp; key to engender enduring trust &amp; relationships.
Even disagreements aren’t enough to move away from that caveat. This is a cardinal rule in politics.
My assessment, which I have highlighted consistently, is that there was no love lost btn Chamisa &amp; his erstwhile colleagues from the Tsvangirai era.
He was forced to embrace them when he inherited the MDC-A from Tsvangirai. That’s also where the likes of Tshabangu came from.
With trust &amp; confidence low, and the by-elections of March 2022 a mere 2 months after CCC’s formation, there was never enough time to complete the formalities of adopting a party Constitution at the time.
None other than Prof Ncube himself confirmed this to me in 2022. The draft remained just that.
The lack of trust was terminal, with many lying in wait to pounce &amp; break away soon after the elections.
Chamisa was clearly aware of this. It’s what informed Strategic Ambiguity &amp; the adoption of the Constitution that I criticised.
So the two were forced on him, as extreme measures / strategies which he hoped would be sufficient to stem infiltration &amp; hijacking of the party – with Mwonzora’s then recent antics still raw.
Let’s not forget echoes of a haunting past involving Biti &amp; Ncube’s damaging break aways from Tsvangirai as well.
Every strategy has got it’s pros &amp; cons. SA succeeded in exposing ED’s hand in the infiltration of CCC using state machinery.
However, it came at a heavy price of reputational harm domestically &amp; internationally vis-a-vis a perceived lack of adherence to democratic norms.
Many hadn’t bargained for ED being that brazen &amp; going to such extremes in pursuit of a life presidency.
The paralysis Freeman refers to post election is attributable to ED’s infiltration.
Chamisa succeeded in exposing the regime for conducting a sham election, which was confirmed by SADC’s SEOM Final Report.
That’s the best he could do under the circumstances with a hopelessly compromised party.
Freeman is unable or unwilling to accept that Ncube &amp; his crew’s behaviour is consistent with those that have been co-opted.
By breaking free &amp; starting afresh, Chamisa has got one final chance to start a project on his own terms &amp; for which he will be ultimately responsible!
It won’t be a walk in the park, but it’s for the best that a line be drawn in the sand concerning a very painful &amp; traumatic past!
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Nelson Chamisa did not want Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti in his new party, the Citizens Coalition for Change. Some people say Chamisa didn't want to work with them because he didn't trust them. Others say he wanted to stop his party from being taken over by his enemies. Chamisa had to make tough choices to protect his party from being controlled by others. Now, he has a chance to start fresh with his own project and show that he can lead on his own terms.

Chamisa Did Not Want Welshman Ncube And Tendai Biti In CCC, Says Mutebuka

Statement by the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction led by Welshman Ncube on the 2024 national budget presented by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube on Thursday:
<blockquote>
<h2>Citizens Coalition for Change Statement on 2025 budget statement</h2>
The recent national budget proposal exposes the Zanu PF government’s obnoxious penchant to compulsorily expropriate people’s money to the last cent to fund the honchos lavish lifestyle.
As Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) we are of the conviction that the fundamental error in the budget statement was failure to understand what makes a nation succeed.
Our success must move from a government that is just a tax collector to one that enables economic growth and create jobs. Our people are suffering idleness.
A CCC government will implement the following budget policies:
1. Ensure job creation by funding youth and women innovation funnels and entrepreneurial development
2. Cut off middlemen often called “buyers” in the mineral value chain by enhancing capacity of the Minerals Marketing Authority to Zimbabwe and Fidelity Printers. This will prevent pilferage and haemorrhage of precious minerals for the benefit of the select few.
3. Empower communities through revenue share of mineral wealth through community ownership schemes run by trusts.
4. Drive innovation, partnerships and good governance to have part of mineral wealth exploited fully by exclusive mining by Zimbabwe Mining Development Fund.
5. Fund rural value addition in agriculture, organise communities and offer export incentives. Develop and deploy rural industrial hubs and access to market schemes.
6. Have robust fiscal regime that curtail non-value adding imports whilst growing local capacity.
7. Invest in science and technology including innovation hubs that go beyond the familiar of copying and pasting already existing ideas.
8. Re-invent the idea of growth points as centres of economic success stories and as places to live and thrive for the youth.
9. Increase tax collection by simplifying the tax code and offer tax breaks for Small Micro and medium enterprises.
10. Reform, fund and refine technical college training to enable massive export of labour on a government to government agreement.
11. Negotiate taxations agreement that enable additional tax benefit from the Zimbabwe trained diaspora benefitting foreign governments.
12. Simplify license, permits and tax payments to simplify the cost of doing business so as to attract investment and prevent underground economy.
As CCC we believe in the importance of health for all. Taxes should not be used to punish citizens and corporates. A CCC government will do the following:
1. Establish a lean collecting agent for lifestyle taxes including but not limited to sugar tax, airtime and data tax, tobacco and cigarette surtax, and other health related tax collections
2. Ensure a 100% free tax regime for health service firms and PAYE exemption of health service workers.
3. Initiate a council that encompass Aids, TB, Cancer, Diabetes and Hypertension instead of just one that cares for HIV and AIDS.
The education budget allocation greatness is that it exceeds the Maputo Declaration albeit that 16% of nothing is nothing. A one size fits all model causes inordinate tax burdens.
As a CCC government we shall cover 100% of rural schools’ budget, 70% for high-density schools, 50% of low-densityschools and 0% of private schools.
Presenting a budget on the mantra of “Building Resilience for Sustained Economic Transformation” is a loud sounding nothing when in the statement the anchor remains agriculture and mining.
A CCC government will drive economic diversification as a strategic imperative. Further we shall ensure the entire Zimbabwe is a special economic zone for 5 years to attract and retain investment then create jobs.
The country’s economy is largely formal. Introducing corporate tax as a panacea solves nothing in our view. A CCC government will drive a program to simplify the tax code including licensing and permit codes.
We shall liaise with professional bodies to further simplify reporting standards of small enterprises. This will enable easy and cost-effective compliance.
A decentralized area-based Zimra booth is a simple idea but effective. Capturing the formal into informal shall be done with massive reduction of tax heads and tax amounts.
As a CCC government our intention is to collapse ministries with insignificant allocations and or make them departments.
Allocations should be alive to value creation ministries more. We shall discard incremental budgets and implement value and activity-based budgeting.
It is sad that civil servants’ welfare was largely ignored in this budget. As CCC government we shall benchmark salaries to regional standards with a first-year premium of a higher cost of living in the country.
The budget is based on a ZiG conversion that is sub optimal and false. It’s a lie. As CCC government in our first year of office we shall base our budget on US dollar, discard the ZiG and then deploy a mono currency in the second year.
The diaspora rights particularly the right to vote could increase diaspora remittances and promotion of import substitution to help the balance of payments and the current account.
The budget is anti-people, anti-business and anti-Zimbabwe. It must be rejected.
Willias Madzimure
Party Spokesperson
Citizens Coalition for Change
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is not happy with the 2025 national budget because they think it is bad for the people, businesses, and Zimbabwe. They believe the budget takes too much money from the people and doesn't create enough jobs or help the economy grow. The CCC has a plan to create jobs, support communities, and simplify taxes to attract investment. They also want to improve health and education, make the economy more diverse, and help civil servants get better salaries. The CCC is against the budget and wants it to be rejected.

FULL TEXT: 2025 National Budget Is Anti-people, Anti-business And Anti-Zimbabwe - CCC

A ZANU PF official has claimed that the ruling party successfully dismantled the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and is now waiting for its former leader, Nelson Chamisa, to establish a new party so that it can dismantle that as well.
Speaking to ZANU PF supporters at Charandura Business Centre in Chirumanzu, where 50 people allegedly defecting from the CCC to the ruling party were publicly paraded, Midlands provincial chairperson Edson Chiherenge declared that ZANU PF was prepared to dismantle any new party Chamisa might form. He said (<a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200034848/well-destroy-chamisas-new-party-zanu-pf">NewsDay</a>):
<blockquote>
This party (CCC) wants to register another party. We know there is no longer any CCC because the party has disintegrated. We are waiting for the new party to come on board so that we destroy it again.
</blockquote>
Chiherenge expressed gratitude to the CCC defectors for joining ZANU PF, adding that both the party and President Emmerson Mnangagwa recognised and appreciated their decision.
However, he warned the new ZANU PF members not to come with ambitions of quickly seizing positions within the party.
This follows the dramatic exit of Nelson Chamisa from the CCC in January 2024. Chamisa alleged that the party had been infiltrated, claiming that self-styled interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu had taken control of the party.
Tshabangu, who was largely unknown before the August 2023 general elections, rose to prominence afterward.
He controversially seized leadership of the party through a series of court rulings and the actions of the National Assembly Speaker and Senate President, leading to the recall of numerous CCC legislators.
Tshabangu also orchestrated the recall of several CCC councillors and mayors across the country after the Ministry of Local Government acted on his recall letters.
Chiherenge’s assertion that ZANU PF had effectively destroyed the CCC could be seen as an indirect acknowledgement that the ruling party played a role in facilitating Tshabangu’s takeover, effectively undermining the opposition party.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZANU PF, a big political party in Zimbabwe, says it will crush any new party that Nelson Chamisa, a former leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), tries to form. They are happy that some people from CCC have joined ZANU PF. Chiherenge, a ZANU PF official, warned these new members not to expect to get top positions right away. Chamisa left CCC in January 2024 because he thought someone else had taken over the party. This person, Sengezo Tshabangu, got many CCC members removed from their positions. ZANU PF's claim of destroying CCC could mean they helped Tshabangu take control, weakening the opposition party.

ZANU PF Says It Will “Destroy” Any New Party Chamisa Forms

A faction of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) party, primarily composed of members loyal to former leader Nelson Chamisa, has voiced its opposition to Zimbabwe’s bid for readmission into the Commonwealth under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration.
The Commonwealth, or the Commonwealth of Nations, is a political association of 56 member countries, most of which were former territories of the British Empire.
The organization promotes peace, democracy, and development, providing a platform for member states to collaborate on various issues.
In a statement, party spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi outlined reasons why the Commonwealth should reject Zimbabwe’s application to rejoin the group under the current government.
Mkwananzi criticised the general elections held in August 2023, describing them as “deeply flawed” and marred by significant voter intimidation, manipulation by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), and unresolved irregularities in vote tallying.
He also pointed out the ongoing incarceration of faction leader Jameson Timba and other party activists since June 2024, among other issues. Said Mkwananzi:
<blockquote>
In addition to the failed electoral system, the opposition faces unprecedented attacks. Our members, including Amos Chibaya and Senator Timba, have been unjustly arrested and detained without trial, while others remain behind bars under politically motivated charges.
The fraudulent recall of 15 MPs and 17 councillors by individuals unaffiliated with our party demonstrates the regime’s subversion of democratic norms.
Further, the funds meant for our party have been diverted to imposters, rendering us financially constrained in fighting for democracy.
Zimbabwe’s judiciary has been captured by the executive, with rulings that consistently favour the government while disregarding constitutional rights.
Chief Justice Luke Malaba’s tenure extension, ruled unconstitutional by legal experts, casts a shadow over the judiciary’s credibility.
Corruption scandals such as the ZESA and Kuvimba Mining House cases continue to erode public trust, while the victims of state-sponsored violence, including opposition members, still await justice.
</blockquote>
Mkwananzi added that, given these gross violations of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, the Commonwealth should reject Zimbabwe’s application for readmission until genuine reforms are implemented.
He said that Zimbabwe must restore democratic integrity and accountability before it can be welcomed back into the international community.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Some people in a political party in Zimbabwe do not want the country to join the Commonwealth under their current leader. They say the recent elections were not fair, and many people were intimidated. The party members have been arrested, and the government is accused of corruption. They want Zimbabwe to make changes before joining the Commonwealth. They think the country needs to improve democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. They want the international community to wait until these changes happen before letting Zimbabwe back in.

Former Chamisa Loyalists In CCC Opposed To Zimbabwe's Commonwealth Readmission Under Mnangagwa

Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC), reportedly owes its workers over US$1.2 million in salary arrears accumulated over two years.
According to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200033908/ccc-burns-over-us12m-salary-arrears">NewsDay</a>, these employees, contracted before the party split, were assigned various roles in the technical department between 2022 and 2023 and were promised salary payments upon disbursement of political party funds.
The CCC has since split into three factions following the departure of party leader Nelson Chamisa in January this year.
The factions, led by Jameson Timba, Welshman Ncube, and Sengezo Tshabangu, are currently battling for control of the financial allocation under the political parties fund.
Employees who spoke to NewsDay expressed frustration, stating that party leaders have not addressed their concerns.
Each worker is owed between US$10,000 and US$50,000 over the 24 months. The workers, who claim they are not aligned with any CCC faction, have threatened legal action against party leaders.
The Timba-led CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi confirmed the issue of salary arrears to NewsDay. He said:
<blockquote>
The employees were due to be paid through the political grant which has been diverted to impostors. We implore those with the money to consider and prioritise the workers in this situation.
</blockquote>
Tshabangu’s personal assistant Nqobizitha Mlilo also acknowledged the debt. He said:
<blockquote>
Senator Tshabangu is aware of this issue. When he became aware of the issue, he requested to be furnished with the various contracts of the employees. He is now in possession of those contracts.
</blockquote>
The Welshman-Ncube-led CCC spokesperson Willias Madzimure said he was not aware of the issue, but acknowledged that there were individuals employed by the party. Said Madzimure:
<blockquote>
The office of the secretary-general deals with that issue, including those who call themselves secretary-general of the party. They should respond.
There is a need to authenticate who were the employees, so the office of the secretary-general is better placed to respond to that.
</blockquote>
Posting on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, October 21, Hwende denied that the party owed its workers US$1.2 million.
He added that they will receive CCC’s ZiG22,116,500 from the ZiG70 million allocated to political parties that participated in the August 2023 harmonised elections. He wrote:
<blockquote>
The CCC party led by Prof Welshman Ncube does not owe anyone this kind of money. This money which will be paid soon will be used for party programmes and Activities.
We are busy finalising payment registers for our Elections Agents that worked for the party during 2023 Elections.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The opposition party in Zimbabwe, CCC, has not paid its workers over $1.2 million in salaries for two years. Workers were promised pay from party funds, but the money was not given out. The party split into three factions, causing confusion about who is responsible for paying the workers. Workers are frustrated and may take legal action. Party leaders acknowledge the debt but have not addressed the issue. A spokesperson denied the debt and said workers will be paid soon. Employees are owed between $10,000 and $50,000 each.

CCC Owes Workers Over US$1.2 Million In Unpaid Salaries

Three factions of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) party are embroiled in a struggle for control over funds allocated by the Treasury under the Political Parties (Finance) Act.
The ruling ZANU PF party received the largest share, with approximately ZiG$48 million, while the CCC was awarded just over ZiG$22 million.
One CCC faction, led by Jameson Timba, has filed an urgent High Court application seeking an order to prevent the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, from disbursing the funds until the party’s leadership disputes are resolved.
In response, Welshman Ncube, the leader of another CCC faction, has applied to be joined as a party to the proceedings, arguing that he has a real and substantial interest in the matter but was omitted from the initial application.
Meanwhile, Sengezo Tshabangu, the leader of a third CCC faction, has filed a notice of opposition challenging Ncube’s claim to be the acting president of the party.
Tshabangu argues that Ncube’s claims are baseless and not supported by any facts. His notice reads in part:
<blockquote>
The deponent is not the acting president of the applicant. He has not attached any annexure to substantiate his averment.
It is trite that in motion proceedings, an applicant stands and falls on his or her pleadings of the facts of his or her case.
No facts have been pleaded generally, and specifically with reference to the first applicant’s constitution, same attached on page 101 if the Applicants application, to support the deponent’s averment that he is in fact the acting president of the applicant.
On the version of the deponent, and in particular paragraph 27, the deponent alleges that he became acting president on account of the resignation of the then president, Mr Nelson Chamisa.
He does not aver that there was an extraordinary Congress of the applicant as peremptorily required by the 1ts applicant’s constitution, and by law.
In the result, and again on his version, the deponent is not, and has never been the lawful acting president of the first applicant.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Three groups in the CCC party are fighting over money given by the government. ZANU PF got ZiG$48 million while the CCC got ZiG$22 million. Jameson Timba wants to stop the money from being given out until their leadership issues are fixed. Welshman Ncube also wants to be part of the decision because he thinks he has a say in the matter. Sengezo Tshabangu is against Ncube saying he is the president of the party. They are all fighting over who should control the money.

CCC Factions Fight Over Money

Disputed leader of the CCC, Sengezo Tshabangu, received $1.6 million form the government as part of government funding political parties get after every election. Tshabangu, NewsHawks reports, received the money last week as government recognised leader of the CCC, the party he wrestled from Nelson Chamisa.
According to the Political Parties (Finance) Act, parties that manage to get at least 5% of the vote receive funding from the government 
The government disbursed ZiG47 ,883,500 to Zanu PF and ZiG22,116,500 to CCC. The government official rate is 13.9 converting the CCC portion to $1.6m.
Government takes the money from Treasury, which is funded by taxes levied on ordinary Zimbabweans when they buy goods, import goods into Zimbabwe, or when they transact electronically.
Tshabangu seemed to appear out of nowhere to challenge Nelson Chamisa authority when he, claiming to CCC Secretary General, sent a letter to parliament recalling elected CCC MPs from parliament. Strangely the Speaker of Parliament acknowledged and acted on the recall letters, despite Chamisa and other senior CCC leaders protesting that there was Secretary General post in the CCC.
When the CC approached the courts to rid Tshabangu of the power, they lost case, in a development many described as capture of the CCC by Zanu PF through the courts. Chamisa <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2024/01/25/chamisa-i-no-longer-have-anything-to-do-with-ccc/">eventually quit the CCC in frustration.</a> Tshabangu later appointed himself Senator and leader of the opposition in parliament.

After the election, Sengezo Tshabangu got $1.6 million from the government for his party CCC. The government gives money to parties that get at least 5% of the vote. The money comes from taxes paid by people buying things or doing transactions. Tshabangu became CCC leader, causing confusion with Nelson Chamisa. Chamisa quit the CCC because of the situation. Tshabangu used the money for his party, making him more powerful in politics.

Tshabangu Receives US $1.6 Million CCC Party Funding

The alleged capture of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) by the State using Sengezo Tshabangu was a well-organised intelligence operation run by the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) deputy director-general retired brigadier-general Walter Tapfumaneyi, reported <a href="https://thenewshawks.com/how-tshabangu-executed-cio-project-to-decimate-chamisa/">The NewsHawks</a>.
Tapfumaneyi allegedly headed Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) to secure a controversial election victory for ZANU PF in the 23 August 2023 general election using coercion and manipulation.
The NewsHawsks reported intelligence sources as saying after the elections, Tapfumaneyi was tasked to handle Tshabangu as he sought to seize CCC from Nelson Chamisa and his allies.
Tshabangu reportedly liaised with Tapfumaneyi on strategy and resources on how the operation would be executed in Parliament and the judiciary.
According to the report, the main aim of the operation was to disrupt the CCC, undermine Chamisa and cause by-elections to get ZANU PF a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Tshabangu, who claims to be CCC’s interim secretary-general, received logistical and financial support from the CIO through FAZ.
It is alleged that at least US$1 million was put into the operation for Tshabangu’s expenses and luxury stay in Harare each time he travelled from his home town, Bulawayo.
Tshabangu was also supported by Speaker of the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda to effect recalls. Mudenda listened to Tshabangu only and not even Chamisa.
Tshabangu later fell out with his steering committee which organised recalls, and the members of that committee tried to engage Mudenda to remove him (Tshabangu) from Parliament.
Mudenda however told the committee he would not meddle in the internal politics of the CCC.
On some date, the committee phoned Mudenda to effect recalls of Tshabangu and MPs from Matabeleland that he had sent to Parliament, but this was in vain.
They then wrote a formal letter to Mudenda in another attempt to remove Tshabangu citing leadership changes in their committee and directing that Tshuma as interim chairperson was supposed to be the contact person between the August House and the CCC henceforth.
However, Mudenda, again, supported Tshabangu, and from there he (Tshabangu) started attending high-profile state functions presided over by Mnangagwa and praising the system. An intelligence source told The NewsHawks:
<blockquote>
Tapfumaneyi and FAZ were running an operation to decimate CCC and handle Tshabangu. At one point there were misunderstandings and the CIO cut off Tshabangu.
He then met several ZANU PF people and CIO functionaries pleading with them to help him meet Mnangagwa to deal with the matter.
He however managed to fix the misunderstanding with the CIO before meeting Mnangagwa and he continued with his hatchet job of decimating the opposition.
For Tshabangu, doing so was revenge for being sidelined by Chamisa in CCC. In the process, he did not only manage to disrupt CCC but he got what he did not expect which was pushing Chamisa out of CCC altogether.
He also got money, a car and a position in the Senate from that CIO operation. There were opportunistic people he worked with who also benefitted from the CIO project.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

How Tshabangu Executed CIO Project To Capture CCC

Several Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) Members of Parliament dissociated themselves from former party leader Nelson Chamisa after they attended a National Council Meeting convened by a faction whose interim president is Welshman Ncube.
According to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200028532/ccc-legislators-dump-chamisa">NewsDay</a>, during introductions, Chalton Hwende was presented as the secretary-general, Lynnete Karenyi-Kore (vice-president), while Chamisa’s former adviser Sessel Zvidzai was introduced as party chairperson.
Hwende, Karenyi-Kore and others including legislators Richard Tsvangirayi, Maureen Kademaunga and Happymore Chidziva appeared in control of proceedings at the meeting.
Addressing the media, Ncube said the then MDC Alliance national council elected in Gweru in 2019 had failed its duty. He said:
<blockquote>
We took responsibility as the national council accepting that we slept on the job and failed to do our duty to demand accountability and transparency in a democratic constitution, thereby, veering off our democratic principles.
</blockquote>
Ncube appeared to accept the outcome of the disputed August 2023 general elections, saying the party will engage President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ZANU PF but not contest the outcome of the elections. He said:
<blockquote>
We are not going to necessarily engage ZANU PF on the results of the 2023 general elections, but instead, we are going to deal with issues around the conduct of elections based on the reports by local, regional and international observer missions.
Our view is to create a level playing field ahead of the 2028 elections. Otherwise, if we don’t, we will remain in the same place that we were in 2023.
</blockquote>
Ncube also said they will engage Sengezo Tshabangu, the de facto leader of CCC, to resolve problems that are affecting the party.
He said Tshabangu was a legitimate leader of the CCC, who formed part of the national executive and the national council and should be engaged.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Several CCC MPs Abandon Chamisa For Welshman Ncube

A faction of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) has distanced itself from reports claiming the opposition party is pushing for the postponement of general elections that are scheduled for 2028.
According to a statement posted on CCC’s social media pages, which are reportedly run by Promise Mkwananzi, who was appointed spokesperson by former party leader Nelson Chamisa in 2023, the opposition party is against the postponement of elections.
It accused the other faction led by Welshman Ncube and Sengezo Tshabangu of working with ZANU PF to subvert the will of the people. Read the statement in part:
<blockquote>
The CCC would like to distance itself from the remarks attributed to the Ncube-Tshabangu group who obviously have been working with ZANU PF to give them a 2/3 majority to facilitate a third term by amending the constitution to force the postponement of elections in Zimbabwe. The CCC position is that the August 2023 elections were flawed and as such the outcome illegitimate.
This is the issue that needs to be resolved for the country to move forward. Zimbabwe needs to exorcise the ghost of disputed elections and end the cycle of disputed electoral outcomes, and that can only be achieved by dealing with the environmental issues through Electoral and political reforms leading to a fresh election. With political will, Electoral and political reforms can be concluded within 6 months from today.
</blockquote>
The Jameson Timba-led faction also rejected plans by the Government to amend the constitution which will result in the transfer of voter registration responsibilities from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Civil Registry Department. It said:
<blockquote>
The CCC position is that ZEC must continue to manage the voters’ roll including registration of voters. What the party has advocated for is the automatic registration of voters when they turn 18 by electronically and seamlessly linking the voters roll to the Civil registry database and not the transfer of the registration function to the Registrar General.
</blockquote>
Last month, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi told  <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/constitutional-changes-on-cards">The Sunday Mail</a> that the government is considering constitutional changes that would also result in an independent commission taking over delimitation duties from ZEC.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Faction Accuses Welshman, Tshabangu Of Supporting Calls To Postpone Elections

The Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) faction, which previously supported the party’s former leader Nelson Chamisa, has unequivocally distanced itself from Welshman Ncube and Jacob Mafume. These two individuals purportedly assumed leadership roles within the opposition party.
During a media briefing held in Harare on Thursday, March 21, CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi emphatically stated that the party does not recognize Ncube and Mafume as legitimate leaders. He said:
<blockquote>
Those who claim that they are leaders of CCC are liars. They should be here but they are not. People should not listen to those men as they are not the leaders of the party.
In terms of Councillor Mafume, he was elected and sponsored under CCC. He was our candidate and has decided what he has decided and the party can not be beholden to that.
This movement is bigger than any individual, not least its objectives and aims which is to attain and usher in democratic change in our country.
</blockquote>
In a subsequent statement released on Thursday, Promise Mkwananzi, the spokesperson for CCC, announced that the party’s Citizens National Assembly (CNA) convened and reaffirmed its stance in rejecting Welshman Ncube’s assertions regarding party leadership. He said:
<blockquote>
The CNA reconfirmed its resolution of the 31st of January on the leadership of the party and dismissed with contempt, the delusional claims by Welshman Ncube et al, that the party is under the leadership of the Supreme Court nullified MDC 2019 leadership structure.
For the avoidance of doubt, Senator Jameson Zvidzai Timba is in charge of all party affairs through the administrative bureau. The party has no recognized position of acting president or a standing committee structure.
</blockquote>
He also announced that the CNA had ratified the expansion of the Administrative bureau to include heads of the several bureaus of the party.
Agency Gumbo was appointed Head of the Legal &amp; Parliamentary Affairs Bureau; Ropafadzo Makumire, Head of the Local Government Bureau; Leslie Mukurazhizha, Head of the Finance and Fundraising Bureau; and Mudzingwa as the Head of the People With Disabilities Bureau.
Mkwananzi said the CNA resolved that the Organising Bureau must continue to engage and mobilise the citizens towards the ultimate goal of creating a government based on the will of the people.
The Organising Bureau is headed by former Mkoba North MP, Amos Chibaya, a close ally of Chamia who was also present at the CCC media briefing.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Faction Disavows Ncube And Mafume

Consumers in Zimbabwe are feeling the strain of the tightening cost of living. A family of six now requires ZWL$8.1 million, up from ZWL$6.2 million in January this year.
This increase comes at a time when the cost of basic goods has skyrocketed, rendering them unaffordable for many Zimbabweans.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ), spokesperson Phillimon Chereni told <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/cost-of-living-squeezes-consumers/">Business Times</a> that the low-income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six has moved up by 30 per cent and is now at ZWL$8.1 million in the local currency. Said Chereni:
<blockquote>
The CCZ’s low-income urban earner monthly basket for a family of six moved up by 30% and is at ZWL$8.1m  in the local currency, up from ZWL$6.2m recorded for January 2024. While in United States dollars there was a 1% decrease to US$544 from US$551. This decrease is attributed to the discounts that some shops are giving consumers discounts if they buy using the United States dollars.
</blockquote>
Trade unionists and economists, speaking to the Business Times, asserted that the surge in prices denominated in Zimbabwe dollars stems from the market’s refusal to accept the local currency.
President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union Florence Taruvinga said salaries are being paid in Zimbabwean dollars whilst goods and services are priced in US dollars. She said:
<blockquote>
Workers continue to be paid in Zimbabwe dollars which they then use to buy the elusive American dollars. In real terms, this has seen real wages depreciating in any economy that has dollarised.
The goods and services which shops are reducing prices are only a decoy as loss and pretence, basic goods and services remain expensive and out of reach for my constituency.
Employers and businesses have realised that the only best foot forward if they want to remain afloat is to charge for services and commodities in United States of America dollars.
However, for my labour constituency, the dollarisation of the economy comes as a double-edged sword.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Congress of Public Sector Trade Unions secretary-general David Dzatsunga said:
<blockquote>
This is a catastrophic escalation of the ever-widening income and cost of living gap and if wages remain where they are, there is going to be total incapacitation with dire consequences for the nation in terms of service delivery.
</blockquote>
Vince Musewe, an economist, said employees earning local currency have become poorer as they are failing to meet life requirements.
Musewe said workers must earn extra income somewhere else, adding that “things will not get better until we dollarise the economy”.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Rising Cost Of Living Weighs Heavily On Zimbabweans

Several councillors elected on the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) ticket attended a recent meeting in Bulawayo addressed by former party members Gift “Ostallos” Siziba and Amos Chibaya.
The CCC councillors risked being recalled by a faction led by activist Sengezo Tshabangu who had been on a recalling spree since October 2023 which ultimately resulted in ZANU PF attaining a two-thirds majority in the Lower House of Parliament.
As reported by <a href="https://cite.org.zw/ccc-byo-councillors-disregard-recall-attend-chamisa-event/">CITE</a>, Siziba and Chibaya are laying the groundwork for a new political movement led by former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa.
The meeting was held at McDonald’s Hall in Mzilikazi on Sunday and the attendees wore blue T-shirts with the words Democratic Alternative in Zimbabwe.
According to CITE, some of the CCC councillors who attended Sunday’s meeting included Ward 9 Councillor Donaldson Mabuto, Ward 21 Councillor – Tinevimbo Maphosa, Ward 22 Councillor – Bruce Mmeli Moyo, Ward 26 Councillor – Mpumelelo Moyo and Victoria Falls councillor Ephias Mambune.
The meeting was also attended by some recalled officials such as former Ward 1 councillor Shepherd Sithole, former Lobengula-Magwegwe MP Eric Gono and former MP under Proportional Representation Stabile Mlilo.
In his address, Siziba accused ZANU PF of trying to destroy the “authentic alternative in the country” but praised people for coming out to show that they “support Chamisa.”
He described Tshabangu as “a madman” after he initiated recalls of several CCC MPs and councillors last year.
Siziba said “In his madness, he was not the only one,” adding that he had brought a “charge sheet” that would reveal the names of those working with Tshabangu. He added:
<blockquote>
Others are trying to revive (the late, MDC leader Morgan) Tsvangirai’s spirit, forgetting that when he was alive, they also troubled him, saying “he was uneducated.” They even planned to remove him from his post…
I want you to know them so that you are not misled by such characters. They are busy removing people from Parliament. We were not born in Parliament.
We were not born in council. Parliament and council are not the destination. The destination is freedom and democracy for the people of Zimbabwe.
</blockquote>
Siziba also criticised CCC leaders who claimed they were elected at the 2019 Gweru Congress, in apparent reference to Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube. He said:
<blockquote>
There’s no such thing as a standing committee in the people’s movement. The MDC is the past, it’s not the future. The future is with Nelson Chamisa and the people.
They said they are educated, politics is not about being educated. The school of politics is the people, not to say, ‘I am the VP, I am the one who said this’ and another individual woke up in Harare saying he is the Secretary-General (probably referring to Charlton Hwende).
We are facing forward and the president (Chamisa) said clearly that the CCC is no longer the vehicle that will take Zimbabwe to the promised land.
Those who want CCC can take it. People are very clear they want Chamisa, not that VP or that SG. Others want positions and are being helped by ZANU to maintain positions.
</blockquote>
Formed two years ago, CCC is now leaderless after Chamisa dumped the party last month alleging infiltration by ZANU PF.
Biti, who recently reaffirmed that he was the party’s vice president, has been quiet and it is not yet clear who will take over from Chamisa as the leader of the party.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Bulawayo Councillors Ignore Tshabangu "Axe", Attend Chamisa Event

Political analysts have warned Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Members of Parliament and ordinary members against leaving the party in solidarity with Nelson Chamisa as they not be part of his future plans.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200022797/cracks-emerge-in-chamisas-blue-movement">NewsDay</a> on Tuesday, 06 February, political analyst Ricky Mukonza warned that lawmakers and supporters leaving the CCC to follow Chamisa may find themselves in the political wilderness. Said Mukonza:
<blockquote>
There is no doubt that Mr Chamisa is the most popular leader in the opposition circles at this point, however, the situation that is there is a very tricky one.
He quit CCC and those that claim to be loyal to him are following him. Some MPs have already resigned following him.
On the part of those that have resigned, it’s quite a risky move that they have taken because it’s not very clear whether they are part of the plan of Mr Chamisa.
</blockquote>
Mukonza also warned Chamisa that if he forms a new party, he may have the same problems he encountered in CCC since he will be starting with some of the people he worked with in CCC. Said Mukonza:
<blockquote>
There are no brand-new people. Mr Chamisa is going to move to the new political entity with the same people that were in CCC.
He may think that he will succeed in leaving behind those he thinks were problematic for him, but he may equally find the same problems with those that are going to join him.
</blockquote>
Another political analyst Effie Ncube said that Chamisa and his colleagues should avoid the pitfalls that resulted in CCC’s implosion. He said:
<blockquote>
It’s important that the new movement, with its millions of supporters, avoids the pitfalls of division right from the outset. These are the fractures that end up bringing down organisations.
At this stage, conceptual clarity among top leaders is key so that there is unity of purpose. Grievances can grow if not proactively tackled.
</blockquote>
Professor of World Politics at the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies Stephen Chan said:
<blockquote>
Those who sacrificed their Parliamentary careers or left the CCC to follow Chamisa must not be left on the wayside.
The country will not follow him otherwise. He cannot begin again to think he can go it alone.
Otherwise, his new movement will again be seen as a one-man-band, and not as something led by a future president of millions of people in an entire country.
</blockquote>
Fadzayi Mahere and Allan Norman Markham, who were elected Mt Pleasants and Harare East MP respectively, in the 2023 general elections, resigned from Parliament in solidarity with Chamisa.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"You May Not Be In Chamisa's Plans", CCC MPs Warned Against Resigning

CCC deputy spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi says the party’s Members of Parliament (MPs) and Local Authority representatives (councillors) should continue carrying out their duties while the party engages former leader Nelson Chamisa who quit the party late last month.
In a statement posted on X this Wednesday, which has since been removed, Mkwananzi also said party organising secretary Amos Chibaya and deputy party spokesperson Gift Siziba will continue provincial interfaces to consult party membership on the best way forward and to update them on the developments thus far. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
For the avoidance of doubt, the Citizen’s National Assembly (CNA) which is the highest decision-making body of @CCCZimbabwe directed that all party deployees in council and parliament should continue carrying out their duties while we engage with President @nelsonchamisa to find the best way forward.
If or when required to resign, deployees will be advised accordingly. We respect and honour the decisions of those who have personally decided to resign.
We stand in solidarity with those who were forced to resign (through illegal recalls) and we will advise those who remain if/when the party decides on planned resignations.
In the meantime, the party will find a way to keep the connection between the deployees and party officials on the one hand and President Chamisa on the other side for purposes of the future.
Strategic deployments in parliament and council where vacancies arise will continue to be guided by the party and following what President Nelson Chamisa would have done.
Positions which President Chamisa had already made a which President Chamisa had already made a decision or appointment will not be tempered with.
In addition to engaging with President Chamisa, Provincial interfaces led by @ChibayaCCC, @Cde_Ostallos and an extended team will continue into all ten provinces. Our members are encouraged to attend.
The purpose of the interfaces is to consult with the party membership on the best way forward and to update them on the developments thus far.
In the coming days, delegations will be deployed to engage other stakeholders such as churches, civil society, business, labour and student unions and the members of the public.
The party also decided to continue engagements with SADC and to pursue all legal cases before the courts to their logical conclusion.
The party appreciates and agrees with all the issues raised by President Nelson Chamisa and is seized with finding a lasting solution as soon as practically possible.
President Chamisa remains our best foot forward and the legitimate face and leader of the broader democratic movement in Zimbabwe.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"Do Not Resign", CCC Tells MPs, Councillors

Member of Parliament for Chikanga <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Lynette_Karenyi">Lynette Karenyi Kore</a> has reportedly been appointed as the leader of the opposition in parliament by CCC, replacing Amos Chibaya.
Chibaya was recalled by disputed CCC interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu and subsequently barred by a court from running in by-elections set for 03 February.
The decision to elevate Karenyi Kore comes after CCC leader Nelson Chamisa resigned from the party on Thursday.
The party subsequently issued a statement saying the CCC’s leadership structure would revert to the officials elected at the MDC Alliance congress in Gweru in May 2019, before the party rebranded to CCC on 24 January 2022.
Karenyi Kore was one of the MDC Alliance’s three vice presidents alongside Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti.
According to <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/ccc-standing-committee-to-meet-on-new-leader-kore-now-leader-of-opposition/">ZimLive</a>, CCC has called a meeting of its standing committee on Sunday to appoint an acting leader to take over from Chamisa, with both Ncube and Biti expected to attend the meeting.
ZimLive reported a source as saying CCC was also seeking urgent talks with Tshabangu. Said the source:
<blockquote>
One of his stated goals was that he wanted to return the party to constitutionalism and collective decision-making.
The resolution to return to 2019 structures achieves that and given that he is the one that is now recognised by parliament and the courts as interim secretary general, we hope he will be happy to surrender the party back to its elected officials.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, several CCC MPs have taken to social media to show their loyalty to Chamisa and say they “stand with him.”
However, none of the MPs has resigned, but they will be expected to back their words with actions in the coming days.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Karenyi Kore Named Leader Of The Opposition In Parliament

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Communications Department has said national leadership elected at the Gweru National Congress under the then MDC Alliance will take charge of the party following party leader Nelson Chamisa’s sudden resignation on Thursday, 24 January.
45-year-old Christian pastor and lawyer quit the party saying it had been “contaminated” and “hijacked” by the ZANU PF-led government.
In a statement issued following Chamisa’s resignation, CCC said National, Provincial, District, Ward and Branch Executive committees elected leading to the May 2019 Gweru Congress will remain in place. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
Today, 24th January 2024, Advocate Nelson Chamisa issued a statement whose essence was that he had ceased to be the President of the Citizens Coalition for Change party.
Following President Chamisa’s statement, the Party Leadership elected at the Gweru Congress convened an emergency meeting to consider both the contents of President Chamisa’s statement and its immediate implications.
It is important to remember that, President Chamisa was elected unopposed at the Gweru National Congress in May 2019.
His leadership and Presidency of the party have never been in dispute or contestation. Until his today’s statement, he was the undisputed President of the party.
The Party leadership resolved that power and authority will collectively reside in the national leadership elected at the Gweru National Congress.
The Leadership further reaffirmed the authority of National, Provincial, District, Ward and Branch Executive committees elected leading to the May 2019 Gweru Congress.
The Leader of Opposition in Parliament.
The leadership also resolved to lead a process to engage President Chamisa in a deliberate and determined manner in an effort to resolve some issues raised by Advocate Nelson Chamisa in his statement.
The Leadership further resolved that another leadership meeting will be convened as a matter of urgency and further announcements will be made after that meeting.
It is important that all party deployees in various positions of responsibility must continue executing their mandates whilst the leadership seeks ways to resolve the current issues.
The general membership of the party is also called upon to jealously guard and defend the unity and cohesion of the party, and to do all that will enhance the standing of the party.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"MDC Alliance Gweru Congress Leadership Now In Charge Of CCC"

The Government says former ICT Minister <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Nelson_Chamisa">Nelson Chamisa</a>‘s decision to quit CCC “is a non-event, which is not surprising”.
In a 13-page statement released on Thursday, but dated 24 January 2024, the second anniversary of the formation of the party, Chamisa said CCC has been “contaminated” and “hijacked” by the ZANU PF-led government.
In response to the announcement, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Jenfan Muswere, told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/chamisa-reaches-political-waterloo-govt-says-its-a-non-event-not-surprising/">The Herald</a> on Wednesday night that Chamisa’s resignation from CCC was not surprising. Said Muswere:
<blockquote>
[Chamisa’s resignation] is a non-event, which is not surprising given that the CCC formation originates from various MDC formations riddled with infighting, internal contradictions, dictatorship, puppetry and leadership deficiency.
The rantings and misleading empty statement is not based on law, but on imagination, lack of understanding of the legislation related to electoral laws, the role and mandate of observer missions and deficiency in the running and management of a political party.
Historically, opposition formations are in the habit of donating their leadership or partners to Government or ZANU PF, but after they make amends, they have never reverted to correct their misinformation to the constituencies.
If you analyse most of the members of the structure-less opposition have been part of different formations and have along the way been donated in the media to Government or the ruling party in the past.
</blockquote>
Chamisa won about 44% of the votes in last year’s presidential election which was condemned by the SADC Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) and other international election observers as not free and fair.
The 45-year-old Christian pastor and lawyer’s move to quit CCC came after the State effectively handed over the party to <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Sengezo_Tshabangu">Sengezo Tshabangu</a>, an opposition activist who claims to be CCC interim secretary general.
Chamisa recently recalled Harare mayor Jacob Mafume, but his communication to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works was ignored, yet the same Ministry does not hesitate to enforce Tshabangu’s letters to recall CCC councillors.
Chamisa was previously the leader of the MDC Alliance which he quit in 2022 after the State handed the party over to Thokozani Khupe through a controversial High Court ruling that was upheld by the Supreme Court in March 2020. He then announced the formation of CCC that same year.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Says Chamisa's Resignation From CCC Is "A Not-event"

The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has dismissed the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (ZEC) move to declare five ZANU PF candidates duly elected as members of the local authorities ahead of the 03 February 2024 by-elections.
ZEC made the declaration following the 19 January 2024 High Court order that nullified the nomination of the CCC candidates to contest the wards.
The wards are as follows: Chiredzi Town Council’s Wards 6 and 7, Harare Municipality’s Wards 5 and 18, and Manyame RDC Ward 7.
In a statement, CCC national spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said ZEC rushed its decision as the stipulated timeline for the party to lodge its appeal with the Supreme Court has not yet lapsed. Said Mkwananzi:
<blockquote>
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) wishes to inform members of the public that the statement by the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) alleging that our candidates have been barred and therefore ZANU PF candidates have been duly elected following the High Court ruling of the 19th of January 2024 is false, inaccurate, misleading and premature.
We are still well within the stipulated timeline to lodge our appeal with the Supreme Court as provided for by the law.
We are going to lodge the appeal within the stipulated timeframe and our candidates, voters, supporters and members of the public are advised to forge on with their campaigns and preparations as planned and scheduled.
We urge the Zimbabwe Election Commission to endeavour to acquit itself with the highest level of professionalism, independence and objectivity.
We do not expect the electoral management body to recklessly jump the gun in matters of such national significance as this further diminishes ZEC’s already questioned standing as credible arbiter in national electoral contestations-a point already belaboured by the opposition, civil society and all electoral observer missions that participated in the disputed August 23, 2023, general elections.
</blockquote>
According to ZEC, the following ZANU PF local authority candidates have won their seats unopposed:
<ul>
<li>Costen Mombe – Chiredzi Town Council Ward 6</li>
<li>Brighton Nyashadzashe Mahiya – Chiredzi Town Council Ward 7</li>
<li>Abdurrahman Sapa – Harare Municipality Ward 5</li>
<li>Rufaro Daniel Matsika – Harare Municipality Ward 18</li>
<li>Simbarashe Ngarande – Manyame RDC Ward 7.</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Dismisses ZEC's Declaration On 03 February By-elections

Police officers from Gutu allegedly confiscated and destroyed an estimated 600kg of beef intended for Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Ward 6 victory celebrations that were supposed to be addressed by party leader Nelson Chamisa.
Villagers who came prepared for celebrations went back home disappointed after the meat was destroyed.
<a href="https://masvingomirror.com/zrp-destroys-beef-for-ccc-celebrations/">The Mirror</a> reported sources as saying that the meat was seized by the police because it was uninspected. It was destroyed by burning at Gutu Abattoir on Thursday.
Police have been accused of double standards as beasts are slaughtered at ZANU PF rallies and fed to supporters without inspection.
In fact, In Zimbabwe, butcheries all over the country including urban areas sell uninspected meat.
CCC’s Chibaya told The Mirror that two beasts were slaughtered for the celebrations which were to run concurrently with a rally at Chiriga Business Centre in Chatsworth, Gutu on Thursday. He said:
<blockquote>
I bought a beast for Ward 6 victory celebrations and the second one was bought by Ephraim Morudu who is our party candidate in the Gutu West Parliamentary by-election taking place this Saturday (11 November).
Police impounded the beef from Murodo as he ferried it in his car from Mpandawana to Chiriga and told him that they were going to destroy it because it had no certificate of inspection.
</blockquote>
Ward 6 which is in Gutu West is the only rural council seat declared as won by CCC in Gutu District in the 23 August 2023 Harmonised Elections.
Ephraim Morudu was the Citizens Coalition for Change candidate in the Gutu West by-election held on Saturday and came third in the race.
The ZANU PF candidate <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/John_Paradza/">John Paradza</a> received 12,147 votes, Martin Sebastian Mudzingwa, an independent candidate, received 1,775 votes, and Morudu received 1,258 votes.
The other candidate, Robson Kurwa of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) received 138 votes. There were 132 spoilt papers.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZRP Destroys 600kg Of Beef For CCC Celebrations

Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) self-declared Change Champion in Chief Nelson Chamisa has dismissed Tendai Biti’s call for collective leadership in the party, saying he would rather follow his heart.
Biti was one of the MDC Alliance deputy presidents before the party morphed into CCC and abandoned leadership structures.
The former Minister of Finance is reportedly among several senior former MDC members who formed CCC who have been sidelined by Chamisa who allegedly prefers working with those he considers loyal to him.
On Saturday, 11 November, Biti criticised CCC’s “strategic ambiguity” championed by Chamisa, saying he believes in collective leadership among other values and will “never” compromise on his beliefs. He said:
<blockquote>
I have my challenges and reservations about our identity, structural, strategic and procedural polity.
I am a democrat who believes in constitutionalism, the rule of law, transparency, openness and collective leadership. I can never compromise on these core values.
</blockquote>
However, responding to one of his followers on the X social media site who had asked for “Transparency and collective leadership”, <a href="https://x.com/nelsonchamisa/status/1723950486267519243?s=20">Chamisa said</a>:
<blockquote>
Is there anything called collective leadership for unlike hearts and minds?? Governance issues are matters of the heart.
</blockquote>
Political commentators say Chamisa risks losing control of CCC after a party activist, Sengezo Tshabangu, claimed to be the party’s interim secretary general and successfully recalled scores of elected representatives.
Chamisa has also been accused of exhibiting dictatorial tendencies by allegedly running CCC without consulting other party members and making decisions unilaterally.
Commenting on Chamisa’s post on X, journalist Hopewell Chin’ono said the CCC leader has made it clear that those who do not agree with him should move on. He said:
<blockquote>
I think those who are wanting collective leadership should leave CCC and allow Nelson Chamisa to run his project the way he wants to. He has made it explicitly clear here that there is no place for them in CCC.
Those wanting a democratically run party should just leave! He doesn’t want to work with people he differs with and he has said it. Accept and move on!
</blockquote>
Last month, opposition activist,  <a href="https://wiki.pindula.co.zw/Freeman_Chari">Freeman Chari</a> who is also a software engineer based in the United States of America, suggested that “strategic ambiguity” has been CCC’s weakness.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

There Is Nothing Called Collective Leadership - Chamisa

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has urged SADC leaders to address the issues raised by the SADC Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) to Zimbabwe for the 23 August 2023 elections to preserve peace and stability in the country.
In a statement, CCC deputy spokesperson Gift “Ostallos” Siziba said the party expects the Extraordinary Summit of the SADC Heads of State, which met virtually today and will reconvene in person on 04 November in Angola, to tackle Zimbabwe’s disputed election. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The Citizens Coalition for Change acknowledges the Extraordinary Summit of the SADC Heads of State and Government, which commenced today and will reconvene in Luanda, Angola, on November 4, 2023.
The Summit is addressing critical regional concerns, including the reception of a report on Zimbabwe’s flawed and disputed election.
The SADC Electoral Observer Mission declared that the election held on August 23 violated the country’s Constitution and significantly deviated from the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
The ongoing Summit centers around fostering peace, security, and governance in the region. We express satisfaction that SADC appreciates its overall Policy Direction and Control Responsibility within the community, particularly in relation to the disputed elections in Zimbabwe.
Consequently, we urge SADC to urgently tackle the genuine risk posed by the sham August plebiscite to regional stability.
The crisis cannot be disregarded, as it visibly strains social services in neighboring countries and lays the groundwork for widespread insecurity.
On behalf of our citizens, we filed a petition with SADC under its SEAC Dispute Resolution mechanisms, which facilitate peaceful resolution of electoral disputes in the region, aiming to deepen democratic standards and preserve peace and stability.
It is time for decisive regional action. We call upon SADC to uphold their Observer Mission Report and facilitate a process whereby Zimbabwe can regain legitimacy, firmly rooted in the free will of the people.
This will ensure stability in the region and discourage anti-democratic regimes from obstructing the collective will of their citizens.
Only then can the regional destabilization stemming from Zimbabwe’s deepening political crisis be resolved.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC's Statement On SADC Extraordinary Summit | Full Text

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has given an update on its “disengagement” from Parliamentary and Local Authorities sittings.
On 11 October 2023, CCC announced that its MPs and Councillors would temporarily disengage from official activities in Parliament and their respective councils.
The opposition party made the decision after the Speaker of the National Assembly, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mudenda/">Jacob Mudenda</a>, acting on an instruction from <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Sengezo_Tshabangu/">Sengezo Tshabangu</a>, expelled 15 CCC MPs.
In a statement released this Thursday, 26 October, CCC’s Gift Siziba outlined the measures taken by the party since 11 October. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
On the 11th of October 2023, the Citizens Coalition for Change announced that it would be disengaging from Parliamentary and Local Authority sittings for a temporary period of 14 days.
This disengagement is one of the measures we have instituted to demand respect for the people’s votes, following the illegal recalls of our MPs, Senators, and Councilors by an imposter.
During this period, the party has taken the following measures:
1. Approached the courts regarding the recalls issue.
2. Engaged the SADC region on the deteriorating political and constitutional situation in Zimbabwe.
3. Engaged Regional and International Parliamentary forums.
4. Engaged citizens to gather input on the next steps needed to restore legitimacy and normalcy to our body politic.
We are pleased to report progress on these measures and would like to inform you that:
1. The High Court will hear the matter of the illegal recalls on an urgent basis on November 2, 2023.
2. The final report of the SADC Electoral Observer Mission has been submitted and will continue to be discussed within the key institutions of the bloc.
3. We have also made progress in our engagement with citizens and other key stakeholders regarding the exercise of our right to peaceful protest, as provided for in our constitution, both locally and in the diaspora.
Now that the temporary 14-day disengagement period has ended, we will continue to monitor progress on our key demands, review our action plans as appropriate, and consult further with key stakeholders.
We urge all our deployees to actively address and attend to the issues faced by our citizens. To that extent, we would like to express our gratitude to all our deployees for their discipline, resilience, fortitude, and dedication to the citizens’ cause.
We also want to thank the citizens for their support and discipline, despite the extreme provocation from the criminal and illegitimate regime currently ruling Zimbabwe.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Issues Update On "Disengagement" From Parliament, Local Authorities

The opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) has reportedly been kicked out of a rented property in Belvedere, Harare, after failing to pay rentals.
A few years ago, the Nelson Chamisa-led party lost control of its headquarters, the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House, in central Harare to the MDC-T which was backed by the State.
Mercy Dunatuna Muvhundusi (MDM) Attorneys, who are representing the unnamed clients, have ordered CCC to vacate the Belvedere premises over the non-payment of rentals, according to a letter seen by <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/chamisa-kicked-out/">The Herald</a>. Reads the letter in part:
<blockquote>
We represent the property owners of Number 10 Beal Road, Belvedere, Harare. We are advised by our clients that sometime in May 2023 you entered into a verbal agreement in terms of which you were to lease the main house excluding the main bedroom. The rentals for the property were pegged in the sum of US$1 000,00 per month.
Our clients further advise that for the months of July and August 2023, you paid rentals in the sum of US$800,00 instead of the agreed amount of US$1 000,00.
</blockquote>
CCC also took occupation of a cottage at the same property adding to its bills which it could not settle. Reads the letter:
<blockquote>
We are further advised that in September 2023, you took occupation of one of the cottages at the house. The rentals for the cottage and security deposit were in the amount of US$900,00.
Despite that you have taken occupation of the cottage, you have failed or neglected to pay the rentals and the security deposit.
You thus owe our clients rental arrears in the total sum of US$1 300,00. As such you are in breach of the lease agreement.
As a result of the breach, our clients have decided to cancel the lease agreement with immediate effect.
This letter thus serves as notification of cancellation of the lease agreement between yourselves and our client.
</blockquote>
The lawyers said since CCC had breached the lease agreement, the property owners were no longer required to give the opposition party notice to vacate. They wrote:
<blockquote>
In light of the fact that you are in breach of the lease agreement, there is no requirement on our part to give you notice to vacate.
You are therefore required to vacate our client’s premises forthwith failing which we shall institute legal proceedings against you for your eviction and holding over damages, and the costs of such proceedings at a legal practitioner and client scale shall be to your account. Be guided accordingly.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Expelled From Offices Over Rental Arrears | Report

Zimbabwe’s main opposition party the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) on Tuesday demanded a fresh election after it rejected the result of the 23 August vote and called it a sham.
CCC deputy spokesperson Gift Siziba told a news conference in Harare that the African Union and SADC should facilitate a return to legitimacy in Zimbabwe. Said Siziba:
<blockquote>
The position of the CCC is very clear. We reject in toto the results of the elections held on 23 August because the electoral process was flawed and fraught with illegalities.
As a way forward we are demanding fresh elections that are free, fair and credible.
</blockquote>
President Emmerson Mnangagwa of the ruling ZANU PF party won a second term after he polled 52.6% of the vote, and CCC candidate Nelson Chamisa scored 44%.
Election Observer reports from SADC, the Carter Centre and EU all agreed that the electoral field was uneven and the conditions were not conducive for a free election.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Demands Fresh Elections

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has denied allegations by the opposition CCC party that its coverage of the 2023 general elections is biased.
On Tuesday, 25 July, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere issued a statement saying that “it is a matter of public record that ZBC refuses to give any independent or fair coverage to the CCC” leader Nelson Chamisa.
In response, ZBC said that everything it has done is within the confines of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
ZBC Election Coverage
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation notes with concern a statement released by the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Ms Fadzai Mahere.
The statement dated 25 July 2023 has serious allegations to the effect that the ZBC in particular has failed to comply with the law in the coverage of the 2023 General election.
The ZBC is alive to the fact that it is a National Broadcaster and its elections coverage is guided by the laws of the land in this case, The Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) and the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment number 20 of 2013 of particular note Section 61.
The ZBC appreciates that according to the Electoral Act, the election season runs from the day of the Proclamation of the election dates until the day of the inauguration of the winner of the Presidential election.
In this case, our election season began on Wednesday the 31st of May 2023 and will end on the day of the inauguration of the Presidential winner.
Guided by the Electoral Act that requires the National Broadcaster to ‘equitably’ distribute free airtime to contesting political parties, on Proclamation Day, the ZBC had a news story aired on the Main News (8 pm television) and other bulletins including all the six radio stations under the ZBC stable namely, Radio Zimbabwe, National FM, Power FM, Classic 263, Khulumani FM and Central Radio.
The story featured the three main political parties at that stage namely CCC, MDC A and ZANU PF. From the CCC it was Fadzai Mahere who spoke on behalf of her party. (ZBC Main News bulletins are a matter of public record and can be viewed on ZBC News Online stream on Facebook as the bulletins are streamed).
On the day of the nomination Court i.e. Wednesday the 21st of June, ZBC News covered and aired a story that featured CCC President Mr. Nelson Chamisa commenting about the nomination process.
The following day 22 June, again Mr. Chamisa was on the news commenting about double candidates.
ZBC News that their party has made a decision not to speak with the ZBC. This statement has however not stopped the ZBC from seeking interviews from other CCC candidates.
The ZBC as a National Broadcaster respects journalistic ethics such as fairness, accuracy, balance, objectivity and confidentiality of sources but also respects the rights of individuals not to speak to the media.
Editorial independence
It is also important to note that the ZBC is independent ad has a competent editorial team that understands what to publish and how to publish it.
Even an election season doesn’t take away this editorial independence that is provided for by the Constitution of Zimbabwe Section 61 (4) ‘All state-owned media of communication are:
(a) free to determine the editorial content of their broadcasts or other communications’ The Supreme law of the land thus gives the ZBC editorial independence to decide what and how to publish though. Section 61 (5) of the Constitution also gives ZBC the basis of its editorial policy.
Commercial Content
According to the law, ZBC is mandated with offering political parties a discount of 30 percent during prime time.
Other political parties have submitted their advertisements and to date, the National Broadcaster is yet to receive any such from the CCC.
No right is absolute
All content including the commercial content is subject to editorial scrutiny as provided by the law in section 61 of the constitution of Zimbabwe.
61(5) ‘Freedom of expression and freedom of the media excludes-
(a) Incitement to violence
(b) Advocacy of hatred or hate speech
(c) Malicious injury to a person’s reputation or dignity
(d) Malicious unwarranted breach of a person’s right to privacy
As the Constitution provides, we therefore urge political players not to use hate speech, misinformation among others as this cannot be broadcast on ZBC platforms.
While it is understood that elections are an emotive subject and that the campaign is hot and might cause frustrations, it is however unfair to vent these frustrations on the ZBC.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZBC Denies CCC Allegations Of Bias | Full Statement

Ndavaningi Mangwana, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, has responded to a statement issued by CCC on Tuesday, 25 July alleging State media bias in covering political events.
Mahere said that “it is a matter of public record that ZBC refuses to give any independent or fair coverage to the CCC” leader Nelson Chamisa.
She was responding to claims by the Deputy Information Minister, Kindness Paradza, that the opposition is “refusing to take up airtime on ZBC.”
Posting on Twitter, Mangwana said the Government has directed ZBC formally respond to the CCC public statement so that issue is resolved amicably. Said Mangwana:
<blockquote>
The Public Broadcaster is independent of Govt and has its own board, management and editorial team as well as policy.
We support them with policy directions, resource advocacy, and parliamentary accountability. We have since asked them to formally respond to the CCC public statement so as to correct any misunderstandings which may have arisen between the parties.
The ZBC have assured us that they will issue a statement in the spirit of public institution accountability. 
The position of Govt is that;
-the Public Broadcaster is there to serve all. This includes all political parties, all natural or juristic persons.
From our preliminary inquiry, we have been made to understand that, there are challenges with bringing CCC people on air as they either don’t want to come to programs or they have internal contradictions which give them a challenge in deciding who should moderate or appear on a program and how the program should be structured.
This sometimes leads to indecisions on who should attend a program on their behalf and the embargoing of others from attending.
The Public Broadcaster tries to avoid getting involved in these internal contradictions which sometimes lead to the party not being represented at all in spite of ZBC’s efforts at having equitable representation of all players.
When it comes to the airing of CCC adverts, the ZBC reports that CCC leadership has an “unrealistic” expectation that ZBC should do the commercial productions for them.
This is a misunderstanding of the public broadcaster’s role. The CCC party needs to have its own creatives to do its productions just like Zanu PF.
The ZBC is a broadcaster and not an advertising agency and would appreciate completed productions and of course commensurate payment for the purchased airtime.
May we take this opportunity to point out that Zanu PF pays for all the rallies that are aired live on television.
Govt itself pays for the National Heroes Galas that also benefit from live broadcasts.
We call upon everyone to support our National institutions in their commercial efforts to avoid turning into fiscal burdens to the taxpayer.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Govt Orders ZBC To Respond To CCC Allegations Of Bias

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has finally responded to a letter from the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) over the issue of double candidates.
CCC says forty-one (41) individuals fraudulently filed nomination papers as members of the party.
20 of the “fraudsters” filed nomination papers for National Assembly seats while the other 21 individuals filed for local authority seats.
On 22 June, CCC wrote a letter to ZEC and demanded a response within 2 hrs of receipt of the letter, <a href="https://twitter.com/adv_fulcrum/status/1675009804090109952?s=20">according to lawyer Thabani Mpofu</a>.
However, ZEC only responded 8 days later, on 30 June, after it had already gazetted the challenged names.
In the letter, signed by one E. Mamvura on behalf of ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana, the elections management body said it cannot interfere with the decision of the Nomination Court. Reads the letter:
<blockquote>
RE: INVALID CANDIDATE NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2023 HARMONISED ELECTIONS
We refer to the above matter and acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 22 June 2023.
Please note that we cannot interfere with the decision of the Nomination Court. After the sitting of the Nomination Court, a nomination officer becomes functus officio.
We also understand that there is a pending case on the issue raised in your letter. Kindly continue to seek legal redress on the matter.
Candidates have a right to appeal against decisions of nomination officers in terms of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13].
</blockquote>
In a statement on 26 June, CCC national spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere said the party had filed criminal charges against the fraudsters and also appealed to the Electoral Court.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Latest News

Latest Jobs