By Crime and Courts Reporter- The High Court has dealt a significant blow to controversial CCC “interim” secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu, barring him from reshuffling party parliamentarians.
Justice Neville Wamambo’s ruling came after CCC acting president Welshman Ncube filed an urgent application, accusing Tshabangu of overstepping his authority by orchestrating back-door recalls.
The court found Tshabangu’s actions, including removing Lynette Karenyi Kore, Sessel Zvidzai, and Edwin Mushoriwa from the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO), amounted to unlawful recalls in defiance of a prior court judgment.
The judge also declared Tshabangu’s appointment of Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa as “chief whip” unconstitutional, noting such a position does not exist under Zimbabwe’s laws.
Sengezo Tshabangu has been a divisive figure within the opposition CCC, accused of being a Zanu PF agent planted to destabilise the party.
His meteoric rise, self-declaration as interim secretary-general, and unilateral recalls of over 100 councillors and dozens of MPs since the August 2023 elections have raised suspicions of infiltration.
Critics within the CCC argue that Tshabangu’s actions align suspiciously with Zanu PF’s interests, as they have undermined the party’s parliamentary strength and forced costly by-elections.
In his court application, Welshman Ncube accused Tshabangu of colluding with Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, a Zanu PF stalwart, to expedite the changes without the party’s approval.
The controversy surrounding Tshabangu deepened when he unilaterally appointed himself the opposition’s overall parliamentary leader, sidelining senior party members and jeopardising the CCC’s internal cohesion.
The CCC had previously secured a judgment from Justice Tawanda Chitapi (case number HH 652/23), barring Tshabangu from initiating further recalls until his legal authority is determined.
However, Tshabangu continued to act against this order, prompting Welshman Ncube’s latest legal challenge.
Justice Wamambo’s ruling underscores the illegitimacy of Tshabangu’s maneuvers, reversing his latest appointments and reshuffles.
The CCC’s leadership crisis remains a critical issue, with the party accusing Tshabangu of working to weaken opposition efforts while acting as a covert ally of Zanu PF.