The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is grappling with internal strife following the controversial dismissal of interim President Prof Welshman Ncube by self-proclaimed Secretary-General Sengezo Tshabangu.
This unexpected move comes just days after the party received a significant US$1.6 million from the government’s political parties’ fund.
Tshabangu’s Bold Move
Reports indicate that Tshabangu, who emerged from relative obscurity last year to remove legislators from the then-Nelson Chamisa-led CCC, has now targeted Prof Ncube.
Following Chamisa’s departure from the “infiltrated and contaminated” party, Prof Ncube assumed the role of interim President in February.
At that time, Tshabangu welcomed this leadership change, asserting his position as Secretary-General.
In June, Prof Ncube acknowledged Tshabangu’s role, recognizing him as the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament since May. However, last week’s power shift has raised questions about the legitimacy of Tshabangu’s actions.
CCC Responds to Dismissal
In a statement, CCC spokesperson Willias Madzimure firmly asserted that Prof Ncube remains the legitimate President of the party.
He addressed the situation, stating, “The party leadership’s attention has been drawn to and is in possession of a legal opinion purportedly authored by Messrs Ncube and Partners at the behest of Sengezo Tshabangu. The leadership of the party has perused this purported opinion and is of the opinion that this is a fake document that could not possibly have been authored by a reputable law firm.”
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Madzimure emphasized the party’s stability, assuring members and the public that the leadership is firmly in control. “Any notion that the leadership is no longer in existence is false, flawed, and self-serving propaganda designed to sow despondency among party members,” he added.
A Challenge for Proof
The CCC leadership challenged the creators of the legal opinion to provide evidence supporting Tshabangu’s claims.
They demanded documentation demonstrating that Tshabangu had occupied the position of interim Secretary-General from January 22, 2022, up to the time of the recalls of elected party officials.
As the CCC navigates this internal conflict, the implications for its leadership and future direction remain uncertain, raising concerns about unity and stability within the party.
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