By- Zanu PF in Harare has caused the arrest of the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, senior official Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, who was running as the party’s candidate for the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency in the 23-24 August 2023 harmonised elections.

 Kufahakutizwi was arrested by the Police Tuesday and charged with assault and malicious property damage, according to Prosper Mkwananzi, the party’s spokesperson. Said Mkwananzi on X:

Alert: Hon @KufaMunyaof Mabvuku-Tafara constituency is currently held at Harare Central Police and will soon be taken to Rotten Row Magistrates Court on trumped-up charges of assault and malicious damage to property.

Kufahakutizwi who was elected Member of Parliament for Mabvuku-Tafara Constituency in the 23 August 2023 harmonised elections recently called on Zimbabweans to defend themselves against Zanu PF’s disregard for the constitution.

He was commenting on the High Court order which barred him from contesting in the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency by-election to fill the vacant post which became vacant when he was recalled from Parliament by Sengezo Tshabangu. He said:

They are squeezing us to the bone and pushing us towards a One-Party State.

We believe that they did this to attain a two-thirds majority so they amend the constitution and allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to be a life president.

As Zimbabweans, it is high time we stand up because we cannot continue being ruled by this heartless government. People are really angry.

They took away the life of an innocent pastor who was campaigning; if they had known that they would just take the seat they should have spared his life because now they have destroyed his family’s future.

He was referring to the murder of Tapfumaneyi Masaya, a clergyman and activist for the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party, who was abducted and later found dead in Harare. The CCC claims that Masaya suffered severe injuries and his body had decomposed due to the injection of a harmful substance. 

Masaya was abducted while campaigning for Kufahakutizwi who had been recalled by Tshabangu who claims to be the CCC’s interim secretary-general.

By- Police in Harare have arrested the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, senior official Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi, who was running as the party’s candidate for the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency in the 23-24 August 2023 harmonised elections.

 Police charged the Nelson Chamisa aide with assault and malicious property damage, according to Prosper Mkwananzi, the party’s spokesperson. Said Mkwananzi on X:

Alert: Hon @KufaMunyaof Mabvuku-Tafara constituency is currently held at Harare Central Police and will soon be taken to Rotten Row Magistrates Court on trumped-up charges of assault and malicious damage to property.

Kufahakutizwi who was elected Member of Parliament for Mabvuku-Tafara Constituency in the 23 August 2023 harmonised elections recently called on Zimbabweans to defend themselves against Zanu PF’s disregard for the constitution.

He was commenting on the High Court order which barred him from contesting in the Mabvuku-Tafara constituency by-election to fill the vacant post which became vacant when he was recalled from Parliament by Sengezo Tshabangu. He said:

They are squeezing us to the bone and pushing us towards a One-Party State.

We believe that they did this to attain a two-thirds majority so they amend the constitution and allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa to be a life president.

As Zimbabweans, it is high time we stand up because we cannot continue being ruled by this heartless government. People are really angry.

They took away the life of an innocent pastor who was campaigning; if they had known that they would just take the seat they should have spared his life because now they have destroyed his family’s future.

He was referring to the murder of Tapfumaneyi Masaya, a clergyman and activist for the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party, who was abducted and later found dead in Harare. The CCC claims that Masaya suffered severe injuries and his body had decomposed due to the injection of a harmful substance. 

Masaya was abducted while campaigning for Kufahakutizwi who had been recalled by Tshabangu who claims to be the CCC’s interim secretary-general.

By A Correspondent- The leadership of the main opposition, the Citizens Coalitions for Change (CCC) leadership, met today to deliberate on the way forward after the party was barred from participating in Saturday’s by-election which saw Zanu PF winning seven of the vacant nine National Assembly seats.
The ruling party also gained four council seats, three in Bulawayo and one in Masvingo, in the elections marred by poor voter turnout.

The by-elections were called after self-imposed CCC interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu recalled several legislators and councillors elected in the August 23 to 24 harmonised elections.
The main CCC faction led by Nelson Chamisa successfully renominated the recalled MPs and councillors, but Tshabangu applied to the High Court to have them removed from the ballot paper. His application was granted and the candidates failed to participate in the by-elections.
The situation has reportedly thrust the opposition party in a dilemma on the way forward as some party members are reportedly mobilising for withdrawal from Parliament in protest over the electoral fisaco.
In an interview with NewsDay, CCC organising secretary Amos Chibaya said the party’s national assembly would meet in the capital to discuss the way forward.
“The citizens national assembly is going to meet tomorrow (today) in the capital. This is where we are going to come up with a decision we are going to take and we are going to call a Press conference after the meeting,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a statement following announcement of the by-election results, CCC national spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said the party took all necessary measures for its party members to participate in the weekend polls.
“The just ended Zanu PF masterminded by-elections gave the full picture of the regime’s brazen determination to undermine democracy, shred the Constitution and deny citizens their inalienable right to vote for representatives of their choice,” he said.
“The ill-fated elections are a sham as evidenced by an unprecedented low voter turnout and unusually high number of spoilt ballots both signalling the people’s anger and growing impatience with the regime’s shenanigans.”
Mkwananzi also said the party took all necessary legal steps to ensure the inclusion of its candidates on the ballot in the by-elections.
“It is sad that more than 40 years after independence citizens have to approach the courts to be on the ballot paper and actually be denied that effectively denying citizens the choice to vote for the removed candidates,” he said, adding that CCC would file a formal complaint with the Judicial Service Commission.
In October this year, CCC ordered all its parliamentarians and councillors to temporarily disengage from Parliament and local authority business, pursuant to a resolution of citizens national assembly on the recalls.
-Newsday

By A Correspondent- The Citizens Coalitions for Change (CCC) leadership is meeting today to deliberate on the way forward after the party was barred from participating in Saturday’s by-election which saw Zanu PF winning seven of the vacant nine National Assembly seats.
The ruling party also gained four council seats, three in Bulawayo and one in Masvingo, in the elections marred by poor voter turnout.

The by-elections were called after self-imposed CCC interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu recalled several legislators and councillors elected in the August 23 to 24 harmonised elections.
The main CCC faction led by Nelson Chamisa successfully renominated the recalled MPs and councillors, but Tshabangu applied to the High Court to have them removed from the ballot paper. His application was granted and the candidates failed to participate in the by-elections.
The situation has reportedly thrust the opposition party in a dilemma on the way forward as some party members are reportedly mobilising for withdrawal from Parliament in protest over the electoral fisaco.
In an interview with NewsDay, CCC organising secretary Amos Chibaya said the party’s national assembly would meet in the capital to discuss the way forward.
“The citizens national assembly is going to meet tomorrow (today) in the capital. This is where we are going to come up with a decision we are going to take and we are going to call a Press conference after the meeting,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a statement following announcement of the by-election results, CCC national spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said the party took all necessary measures for its party members to participate in the weekend polls.
“The just ended Zanu PF masterminded by-elections gave the full picture of the regime’s brazen determination to undermine democracy, shred the Constitution and deny citizens their inalienable right to vote for representatives of their choice,” he said.
“The ill-fated elections are a sham as evidenced by an unprecedented low voter turnout and unusually high number of spoilt ballots both signalling the people’s anger and growing impatience with the regime’s shenanigans.”
Mkwananzi also said the party took all necessary legal steps to ensure the inclusion of its candidates on the ballot in the by-elections.
“It is sad that more than 40 years after independence citizens have to approach the courts to be on the ballot paper and actually be denied that effectively denying citizens the choice to vote for the removed candidates,” he said, adding that CCC would file a formal complaint with the Judicial Service Commission.
In October this year, CCC ordered all its parliamentarians and councillors to temporarily disengage from Parliament and local authority business, pursuant to a resolution of citizens national assembly on the recalls.
-Newsday

By James Gwati – South Africa’s Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has been admitted to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital for an undisclosed medical procedure, prompting concerns about his availability in the coming days.

The Department of Home Affairs issued a statement confirming the hospitalization, indicating that the Minister’s absence may extend for an unspecified period. The specifics of Motsoaledi’s condition and his expected stay duration remain undisclosed.

Ministerial spokesperson Thabo Mokgola conveyed the information in a brief statement, revealing that Motsoaledi entered the hospital on Monday, December 11, 2023, for the medical procedure.

Mokgola stated, “The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, has today, December 11 2023, been admitted to the Steve Biko Academic Hospital for a medical procedure. The Minister may be unavailable for a while.”

Motsoaledi, who previously served as the Minister of Health for a decade before assuming his current role, has been a notable figure among Zimbabweans due to his persistent attempts to terminate Zimbabwe Exemption Permits (ZEP) and repatriate Zimbabwean nationals.

Despite multiple efforts, Motsoaledi’s endeavours to terminate the ZEP program have faced repeated setbacks, with the courts consistently dismissing his proposals for more merit.

The Minister’s stance on ZEP termination has generated controversy and garnered attention from various stakeholders.

The trial of gospel musician Ivy Kombo and her husband Admire Kasi who allegedly fraudulently acquired fake certificates to practise law in Zimbabwe started yesterday before Harare magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka.

The couple is being represented by Shylet Mapanje and Admire Rubaya.

Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje led the first witness, Joe Zimba, who is the finance and administrative manager at the Council for Legal Education. Zimba said the third accused person Huggins Duri, was the superior at the organisation, when the alleged crime was committed.

He told the court that Duri, whose duties included creating contracts and organising meetings for the Council of Legal Education, was responsible for sending the list of certificates for printing at Fidelity Printers.

The State tendered the application form which is alleged to have been submitted by Kombo as evidence before the court.

Zimba told the court that the couple’s names did not appear on the consolidated schedule list for August 2022 which carries names of students who sat for the examination. Zimba said if the name did not appear on the list, it was an indication that one did not write the examination.

He noted that if one passed the examination, it would be highlighted on the schedule list.

The court heard that Kombo and Kasi’s names did not appear on the students’ collection list for those who successfully passed the examination, indicating that they did not pass the examination.

Zimba denied that one can obtain a certificate if their name does not appear on the certificate collection schedule. He expressed ignorance over where Kombo and Kasi obtained their certificates to practise law.

Kombo is denying committing the alleged offence in her individual capacity or in connivance with anyone in the manner alleged or at all.

The defence argues that Kombo was exempted from writing the examination since she had a masters in law degree acquired at a university in 2014. Rubaya said at the time Kombo engaged the Council for Legal Education there were no conversion examinations for students who had a masters in law degree.

He further argued that Kombo was advised by a Council for Legal Education official, only identified as Ncube, that she was eligible for exemption since she was a holder of masters in law degree.

By A Correspondent- Outspoken former Chegutu West Member of Parliament (MP), Dexter Nduna has had his quest for another bite of the cherry as a parliamentarian dashed after Zanu-PF disqualified him from contesting a primary election to choose a party representative.

Zanu-PF primary elections will be held this Wednesday, December 13, ahead of by-elections in Chegutu West and Zvimba East, as well as Chinhoyi Wards 9, 10 and 12 on February 3, 2024.

Zanu-PF Mashonaland West Provincial Chairman, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka on Sunday presided over a potentially explosive meeting at Rukawo Hotel, where tempers flared following the announcement of Nduna’s disqualification.

Speaking to NewZimbabwe.com on the sidelines of the meeting while mobbed by his supporters, Nduna expressed optimism to reverse the adverse decision reportedly made by the Politburo, the party’s highest authority outside congress.

“I am told that my CV (curriculum vitae) for aspiring MP, so that l go into the primary election, was removed. So l have been told to appeal,” said former lawmaker.

Questioned what could have precipitated the removal of his credentials, Nduna said he was equally in the dark.

“I have not been told. Be that as it may, l am still going to stand,” he vowed.

As a result of Nduna’s jettisoning, aspiring Zanu-PF candidates for Chegutu West, whose CVs sailed through vetting include Shaky Timburwa, Brian Chinyama and Timothy Masviba. At the same time, Last Farai Chigavazira pulled out of the race under unclear circumstances.

Meanwhile, Mliswa-Chikoka’s whirlwind Sunday tour took her to Northcot Hall in Mt Hampden, Zvimba East constituency where another by-election is scheduled following the recall of the surprise winner in the August 23 election, Oliver Mutasa of Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC).

Former Zvimba East legislator, Francis Mukwangwarirwa, who narrowly lost the predominantly rural constituency in the just-ended August 23 and 24 harmonised elections, is facing a stiff challenge from three others namely, Gibson Chihaka, Antony Magama Dube and Kudakwashe Decide Mananzva who also wishes to replace the recalled CCC MP.

In Chinhoyi Ward 9, Edward Besu squares off against Job Mavata in a bid to get the right to replace a recalled CCC councillor.

Godfrey Muzhandamuri, Angeline Rupere, West Chinembiri and Elias Mhako battle to win the right to represent the revolutionary party in Chinhoyi Ward 10. The ward seat became vacant following the recall of CCC’s Lovemore Kurwakumire by self-styled interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu.

Zanu-PF Youth League officials Ketty Chanetsa, Patrick Nyamayaro, Innocent Simba Chakaodza and Viola Moyo face off in Ward 12, which fell vacant following the recall of former Chinhoyi mayor Dyke Makumbi.

Addressing Zanu-PF supporters, Mliswa-Chikoka implored candidates to put aside their differences and rally behind winners of impending primary elections to be held Wednesday.

“It would be prudent to agree on the best candidate and avoid divisive primaries, but just because Zanu-PF is a democratic party, where there is more than one aspiring candidate there would be primaries. The main goal is to reclaim seats from CCC which is currently in disarray.

“We must choose candidates who possess the stamina and political clout to win the electorate’s hearts despite their financial standing. The best candidate is not always the one splashing cash…,” said Mliswa-Chikoka.

The situation has reportedly thrust the opposition party in a dilemma on the way forward as some party members are reportedly mobilising for withdrawal from Parliament in protest over the electoral fisaco.

In an interview with NewsDay, CCC organising secretary Amos Chibaya said the party’s national assembly would meet in the capital to discuss the way forward.

“The citizens national assembly  is going to meet tomorrow (today) in the capital. This is where we are going to come up with a decision we are going to take and we are going to call a Press conference after the meeting,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement following announcement of the by-election results, CCC national spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said the party took all necessary measures for its party members to participate in the weekend polls.

“The just ended Zanu PF masterminded by-elections gave the full picture of the regime’s brazen determination to undermine democracy, shred the Constitution and deny citizens their inalienable right to vote for representatives of their choice,” he said.

The ill-fated elections are a sham as evidenced by an unprecedented low voter turnout and unusually high number of spoilt ballots both signalling the people’s anger and growing impatience with the regime’s shenanigans.”

Mkwananzi also said the party took all necessary legal steps to ensure the inclusion of its candidates on the ballot in the by-elections.

“It is sad that more than 40 years after independence citizens have to approach the courts to be on the ballot paper and actually be denied that effectively denying citizens the choice to vote for the removed candidates,” he said, adding that CCC would file a formal complaint with the Judicial Service Commission.

In October this year, CCC ordered all its parliamentarians and councillors to temporarily disengage from Parliament and local authority business, pursuant to a resolution of citizens national assembly on the recalls.

By A Correspondent- Opposition CCC member Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi has been arrested for malicious damage to property.

This was revealed by Gift Ostallos Siziba in a tweet where he said:

“Hon @KufaMunya has been arrested over Trumped Up Charges of Assault and Malicipus damage to property. This is the continuation of the crack down and closure of democratic space in Zimbabwe.”

By A Correspondent- The Citizens Coalitions for Change (CCC) leadership is meeting today to deliberate on the way forward after the party was barred from participating in Saturday’s by-election which saw Zanu PF winning seven of the vacant nine National Assembly seats.

The ruling party also gained four council seats, three in Bulawayo and one in Masvingo, in the elections marred by poor voter turnout.

The by-elections were called after self-imposed CCC interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu recalled several legislators and councillors elected in the August 23 to 24 harmonised elections.

The main CCC faction led by Nelson Chamisa successfully renominated the recalled MPs and councillors, but Tshabangu applied to the High Court to have them removed from the ballot paper. His application was granted and the candidates failed to participate in the by-elections.

The situation has reportedly thrust the opposition party in a dilemma on the way forward as some party members are reportedly mobilising for withdrawal from Parliament in protest over the electoral fisaco.

In an interview with NewsDay, CCC organising secretary Amos Chibaya said the party’s national assembly would meet in the capital to discuss the way forward.

“The citizens national assembly  is going to meet tomorrow (today) in the capital. This is where we are going to come up with a decision we are going to take and we are going to call a Press conference after the meeting,” he said.

Meanwhile, in a statement following announcement of the by-election results, CCC national spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi said the party took all necessary measures for its party members to participate in the weekend polls.

“The just ended Zanu PF masterminded by-elections gave the full picture of the regime’s brazen determination to undermine democracy, shred the Constitution and deny citizens their inalienable right to vote for representatives of their choice,” he said.

“The ill-fated elections are a sham as evidenced by an unprecedented low voter turnout and unusually high number of spoilt ballots both signalling the people’s anger and growing impatience with the regime’s shenanigans.”

Mkwananzi also said the party took all necessary legal steps to ensure the inclusion of its candidates on the ballot in the by-elections.

“It is sad that more than 40 years after independence citizens have to approach the courts to be on the ballot paper and actually be denied that effectively denying citizens the choice to vote for the removed candidates,” he said, adding that CCC would file a formal complaint with the Judicial Service Commission.

In October this year, CCC ordered all its parliamentarians and councillors to temporarily disengage from Parliament and local authority business, pursuant to a resolution of citizens national assembly on the recalls.

-Newsday

A Harare man has approached the civil courts in Harare demanding that his second wife should pay 50% of their household expenses.

Norman Takawira told Harare magistrate Ayanda Dlamini that his wife Chipo Choga was causing chaos in their polygamous relationship after she claimed maintenance last month which prompted his first wife to plan claiming the same payment.

“We have been living peacefully as I provided for both my wives and four children, but the respondent decided to drag me to court claiming US$60 in maintenance,” Takawira told the court.

“My other wife has also been hinting that she will also approach the courts and claim her own share of maintenance since I am paying (the other wife),” Takawira said.

He told the magistrate that because he had since lost his means of income, his second wife should chip in caring for the family.

“She is the one who is currently employed among the three of us in my family. She earns a good salary which comprises of a US$ component and RTGS (Zimdollar),” he submitted.

Takawira accused the respondent of lying about her income.

“She was not honest about her salary the last time we appeared in court. She can afford to contribute towards the families’ upkeep more than me,” he said.

Takawira pleaded that the US$60 maintenance he was ordered to pay in November be revised downwards.

Choga opposed her husband’s application arguing that he was seeking to avoid paying maintenance.

“I am tired of him because we were in here two weeks ago, but he is already dragging me back to court,” Choga said.

Dlamini dismissed Takawira’s application for the reduction in maintenance.

The by-elections were called after self-imposed CCC interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu recalled several legislators and councillors elected in the August 23 to 24 harmonised elections.

The main CCC faction led by Nelson Chamisa successfully renominated the recalled MPs and councillors, but Tshabangu applied to the High Court to have them removed from the ballot paper. His application was granted and the candidates failed to participate in the by-elections.

By A Correspondent- After the successful commissioning of his Heart Stadium by President Emmerson in Waterfalls on Sunday, PHD leader Walter Magaya now wants to turn his attention on constructing similar facilities in his hometown Chitungwiza.

The 5 000-seater facility was officially opened at a ceremony that was attended by top government officials, ambassadors, businesspeople, Premier Soccer League bosses, coaches, and past and present footballers, among others.

Magaya revealed that he sold four houses, two luxury cars and 64 residential stands to fund the Heart Stadium project, a facility replete with unique features including trendy dugouts, world class dressing rooms equipped with 100-inch television sets and other modern electronic devices, VIP enclosure and directors/corporate boxes.

It also has a sophisticated suspended playing pitch.

Magaya said he was humbled by the support he received on Sunday, although he expressed disappointment that the Zifa Normalisation Committee, who are the custodian of local football, decided to stay away despite being formally invited.

Speaking to the media after the ceremony on Sunday, Magaya said he wants to replicate the Heart Stadium success elsewhere, including in Chitungwiza, where he wants to construct at least two stadiums to help talented young footballers in the dormitory town realise their dreams.

“I was a very talented footballer growing up, and I featured for the Under-13 national team, but could not realise my potential in football because we didn’t have facilities. I don’t want the same to happen to the current and future generations,” Magaya said.

A few years ago, Magaya proposed a deal to the Chitungwiza Town Council to renovate Chibuku Stadium which he wanted to use as a home ground for his Premiership side Yadah FC.

However, council officials said they were not ready to give him a long lease, which he wanted, and the deal collapsed.

But he is not ready to give up, and on Sunday, Magaya appealed to Mnangagwa to intervene.

“Your Excellency, we have approached different city councils, looking first at Chitungwiza where I come from. I wish to construct a stadium in Chitungwiza and replicate the same that is here, at Chibuku Stadium. I have engaged the Chitungwiza City Council, but the response is not yet favourable. It is my prayer that I assist Chitungwiza. If they give me a greenlight today, I will start work the next day,” he said.

Magaya went back for another meeting with the Chitungwiza City Council to try and revive the deal, the third time he had such a meeting, but still found no joy.

“I want to build two stadiums there. I have the stadium plans, and everything is ready, but they (councillors) are slow. They don’t react, I don’t know why. I want to renovate Chibuku Stadium, I want to construct a stadium in Zengeza. I’m ready, I have guys behind the scenes who are ready to sponsor. I have big plans for Chitungwiza, I want to build that city. I went there four years ago; I went there again two years ago so this was my third visit there. I met the full council and I told them I want to build Chitungwiza and bring it to life. There are a million people in Chitungwiza and these guys need help, so my dream is to build them stadiums.”

Police in Limpopo said they have intercepted a convoy of motor vehicles which were travelling from Zimbabwe and heading to Polokwane, carrying more than 100 undocumented foreign nationals.

Limpopo police spokesperson, Brigadier Hlulani Mashaba said the vehicles were allegedly loaded with 133 undocumented children, women and men before they were intercepted by the Limpopo provincial tracking team.

“The police operationalised on information received and managed to locate 11 motor vehicles travelling along the N1 North bypass gateway, outside Polokwane,” said Mashaba.

“The vehicles were tactically approached, stopped and searched and found to be overloaded with 73 underage children between six months and 17 years, including 60 adults,” he said.

“The passengers could not provide the legal documentations for being in the country and were placed under arrest on the spot. Most of the passengers could not establish where they were going and were suspected to be victims of human trafficking.”

Mashaba said police also seized eight Toyota Quantum vehicles, two Toyota Hilux GD6 double cab bakkies, with canopies, and a Toyota Fortuner.

“The police and other stakeholders comprising the Department of Home Affairs and Department of Social Development have been summoned to process the undocumented foreign nationals and suspected victims of human trafficking. Police investigations are continuing,” he said.

Last week, IOL reported that two Zimbabwean nationals were arrested over human trafficking charges after being found transporting 14 children to Cape Town. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks, said the duo could face additional charges as the investigation continues.

Tafadzwa Nakakurwa, 46, and his 41-year-old alleged accomplice, Beulla Maruza, appeared in the Kimberley District Court on Thursday.

Hawks spokesperson, Tebogo Thebe said the two were seen boarding a bus, Big Sky Intercity Coaches, owned by Intercape, in Midrand with the undocumented children, aged between six and 14.

“Police were alerted to the incident by a vigilant passenger in a bus from Midrand in Johannesburg en route to Cape Town. The bus made a stopover in Kimberley. The passenger called an off-duty police officer who, in turn, alerted the multi-disciplinary team.

“The suspects claimed to be taking the kids to their parents in Cape Town, information the police could not verify, leading to the arrests.

“The victims (eight boys and six girls) were inspected and looked dirty and without any additional clothes or bags. They were also hungry. A Provincial Trafficking in Persons rapid response team led by the Department of Social Development was contacted to assist with placing the kids at a place of safety and providing food,” said Thebe.

By James Gwati- Self-imposed CCC interim secretary general, Sengezo Tshabangu, has assisted yester-year musician and Zanu PF activist Sandra Ndebele in getting into the Bulawayo City council.

Ndebele was elected Councillor for Ward 20 in Bulawayo during the by-elections caused by Tshabangu and held on 9 December 2023.

The Zanu PF councillor had previously lost to Simbarashe Dube of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) during the general elections in August 2023.

Ndebele received 1,106 votes in the by-election, defeating Dube, who received 782 votes.

Other candidates, Michael Gumede of CCC and Nomagugu Ndlovu of ZAPU received 57 and 11 votes respectively.

These by-elections were held to fill vacant positions after Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-proclaimed interim secretary general of CCC, recalled several CCC officials from Parliament and local governments, claiming that they no longer belonged to the party.
More by-elections are scheduled to take place on 3 February 2024.

By- A group of Zanu PF and self-imposed CCC interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu linked councillors in Bulawayo have hired Tshabangu to recall City’s Mayor David Coltart.

Colart is persecuted for his strong stance against corruption. 

These councillors are allegedly unhappy with Coltart’s zero tolerance towards corruption and are now collaborating with Tshabangu to have him removed from office.

Tshabangu, has been recalling Members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors from the party, much to the delight of the ruling Zanu PF party.

The councillors who are seeking Coltart’s recall have allegedly been making various foolish accusations against him, including claims of heavy-handedness and dictatorship. It is believed that they are working in conjunction with ZANU PF to achieve their objective.

ZANU PF councillor Nokuthula Sibanda neither confirmed nor denied the alleged plan to remove Mayor David Coltart. However, she told the Independent that the councillors were dissatisfied with Coltart for not consulting them. Sibanda stated that they would approach Coltart to discuss their concerns. She was quoted as saying:

At first he engaged the Egodini project contractor Terracotta Pvt Ltd alone and after we complained we managed to meet them as councillors.

He also goes on business trips without consulting us. He does not want to go with us for workshops, each time we ask him to do so he always tells us that he is a busy man.

Last time when he went on leave he was supposed to leave the finance chairman acting on his behalf as per council resolution but he chose to appoint councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo to remain in an acting capacity as a mayor.

Coltart acknowledged that some councillors were unhappy with his leadership style. He explained that the situation had worsened in recent weeks because of his busy schedule and frequent travels. He told the Independent that he had not had a Saturday at home since October 14 and that his wife had also not seen much of him. However, he denied the accusations of not consulting with his fellow councillors. He added:

As regards me not consulting that is not altogether true. Before I went overseas in October I applied in a full council meeting for leave of absence which was granted.

Sources suggest that these councillors are pursuing the interests of a former MDC A MP for Bulawayo who used his position as a councillor to acquire large plots of land and lucrative tenders. Now, they are attempting to shield these questionable acquisitions from scrutiny by the council.

David Coltart, a former Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, was elected as Mayor after the elections in August 2023. However, there are suggestions that Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), may try to recall Coltart. There is an account on X formerly Twitter in Tshabangu’s name, but we cannot confirm its authenticity. The account implies that Tshabangu may want to recall Coltart because he believes Coltart was forced on the voters by CCC leader Nelson Chamisa.

By-Self imposed CCC interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu is teaming up with a group of Bulawayo councillors and Zanu PF officials to push for the recall of the City’s Mayor David Coltart.

Colart is persecuted for his strong stance against corruption. 

These councillors are allegedly unhappy with Coltart’s zero tolerance towards corruption and are now collaborating with Tshabangu to have him removed from office.

Tshabangu, has been recalling Members of Parliament (MPs) and councillors from the party, much to the delight of the ruling Zanu PF party.

The councillors who are seeking Coltart’s recall have allegedly been making various foolish accusations against him, including claims of heavy-handedness and dictatorship. It is believed that they are working in conjunction with ZANU PF to achieve their objective.

ZANU PF councillor Nokuthula Sibanda neither confirmed nor denied the alleged plan to remove Mayor David Coltart. However, she told the Independent that the councillors were dissatisfied with Coltart for not consulting them. Sibanda stated that they would approach Coltart to discuss their concerns. She was quoted as saying:

At first he engaged the Egodini project contractor Terracotta Pvt Ltd alone and after we complained we managed to meet them as councillors.

He also goes on business trips without consulting us. He does not want to go with us for workshops, each time we ask him to do so he always tells us that he is a busy man.

Last time when he went on leave he was supposed to leave the finance chairman acting on his behalf as per council resolution but he chose to appoint councillor Ntombizodwa Khumalo to remain in an acting capacity as a mayor.

Coltart acknowledged that some councillors were unhappy with his leadership style. He explained that the situation had worsened in recent weeks because of his busy schedule and frequent travels. He told the Independent that he had not had a Saturday at home since October 14 and that his wife had also not seen much of him. However, he denied the accusations of not consulting with his fellow councillors. He added:

As regards me not consulting that is not altogether true. Before I went overseas in October I applied in a full council meeting for leave of absence which was granted.

Sources suggest that these councillors are pursuing the interests of a former MDC A MP for Bulawayo who used his position as a councillor to acquire large plots of land and lucrative tenders. Now, they are attempting to shield these questionable acquisitions from scrutiny by the council.

David Coltart, a former Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, was elected as Mayor after the elections in August 2023. However, there are suggestions that Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), may try to recall Coltart. There is an account on X formerly Twitter in Tshabangu’s name, but we cannot confirm its authenticity. The account implies that Tshabangu may want to recall Coltart because he believes Coltart was forced on the voters by CCC leader Nelson Chamisa.

Harare Central Prison has refused to release TZ president Jacob Ngarivhume despite his earlier on acquittal by justices Kwenda and Maxwell.

They are saying they have no warranty of liberation for him and so they won’t release him. Ngarivhume will spent another night in prison and the officials are insisting they will keep in behind bars for as long as the court hasn’t issued the warranty.

One officer informed our team that this may be for the next two to three days. Scores of family, friends, supporters and journalists have been waiting to welcome Ngarivhume but to no avail.

Not yet freedom for Ngarivhume!

TZ Communications

By- Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) self-imposed interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu has attacked the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, saying he was responsible for destroying the main opposition, MDC.

Tshabangu was speaking on the platform In Conversation with Trevor hosted by Alpha Media Holdings chairman Trevor Ncube (TN).

i
Below are excerpts from the interview.
TN: Sengezo Tshabangu, welcome to In Conversation with Trevor.
ST: My pleasure Uncle Trevor. It is pleasing to be here.
TN: It is a pleasure having you here. In the introduction there, Sengezo Tshabangu, claims to be the interim secretary general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
A number of people are saying you were never elected interim secretary general.
There was never a gathering where you were elected to be the interim secretary general? What do you say to that?
ST: Well, Trevor the issues are before the courts, but I will scratch from the surface. There are so many people who have challenged my authority, challenged my existence, some are even failing to pronounce my name, which is a direct indictment to the people that I represent, to the tribe that I come from.
So yes…
TN: Some are spelling your name with a ‘c-h’?
ST: Yeah with a ‘c-h’. It is unheard of. Yes, there are people who do not know Tshabangu, but these people I have worked with them for years so I think it is a direct attack to the the region, to the people, to the clan where I come from.
So, I do not expect that people that I worked with for so many years can still misspell my name, pronounce it in an unreasonable fashion, it’s an unheard of, but well I will come back to that.
Now, to the point of my appointment, the same process that really appointed president Nelson Chamisa to be the president of the CCC, and also to be the presidential candidate is the same process in which I was elected.
The strategy of ambiguity, so we will discuss these things after the court because they are at the centre of our courts, so it would be unfair for me to really discuss those matters.
TN: So you say you are the interim secretary general as a result of the strategy of ambiguity? Strategic ambiguity as it is?
ST: Absolutely.
TN: Do you want to unpack that? What does that mean?
ST: Well you see we represent the party.
We are an offshoot of the MDC Alliance. I sat in the national council, the national executive, that decided the departure point from the MDC Alliance to the CCC, because there was a challenge that we were going to the elections and Douglas Mwonzora and his team they had taken the name.
So part of the resolutions was that let us have an election strategy, let us form a political party, let us have a new slogan, let us have a different name altogether, different colour.
That is what we agreed.
We were using the constitution of the MDC Alliance, that is what gave birth, that is the paternity process that gave birth to the CCC that we find ourselves in.
But along the way, you realise that that leadership had the likes of Welshman Ncube, had the likes of Tendai Biti, Kore as the deputy, a third deputy president, Amos Chibaya and all you name them.
Along the way the strategy of ambiguity came into play.
We had another CCC, these people, their positions were taken off.
You go to a rally, you would have a president of the party sitting on the floor, you have the president of the party launching the campaign as if he is launching an independent campaign.
There was no organic chemistry of the party working together.
The organs of the party were dissolved.
So there was within the CCC a formation of this structure, which is structureless.
I think it is before the court maybe, but that’s the surface of it.
So, we have this kind of an animal, a creature which you do not even understand the head, the tail of it which is running within the CCC, so that is the strategy of ambiguity that produced the results that we find ourselves in today.
That even failed to even produce candidates that produced the flawed election that produced the result that is still questionable even today.
That produced an incomplete electoral process. So through this strategy…
TN: But some people would say Tshabangu that you are saying the CCC was an offshoot of MDC-A.
And yet some people say No, that it was a completely different organisation.
I think Nelson Chamisa actually pronounced that No this is something completely different, it is not related to MDC.
Am I getting things wrong there?
Although I must admit that what has happened in the past three or so years, in particular the past two years and last six months has totally confused me.
So some of the questions I am asking are genuinely wanting clarification. Was it a new party or is it an offshoot of MDC-A?
ST: We are an offshoot of MDC-A because what gave birth to this new outfit it was the constitution.
We registered the constitution, which we changed and put the CCC but with the same organs that we were using in the MDC Alliance.
So we never came from heaven, we were born by MDC Alliance.
There was MDC-T… I will take you through from when we started this party.
In 1999 there was a convention where we formed the MDC without a name, without people’s face as a symbol, but it was an MDC which comprised of the churches, labour unions. I’m a student of labour.
We are the people who formed the MDC, we are the umbilical cord of the MDC.
We ran with MDC until 2005, where we started to question the leadership of Morgan Tsvangirai the late. May his soul rest in peace.
There was no collective decision process.
We went to the senate in 2005, there was a debate, and that caused the split where the professor Welshman Ncube walked away from the MDC and he remained MDC and then we formed MDC-T to differentiate between us and Welshman Ncube.
So that was the departure point, the first split of the MDC.
We moved on and we had a caveat that we are the MDC-T, we identified ourselves with the leader not with the constitution [or] with the values [and] with the principles where we formed from.
Then in 2014 the same dark cloud that visited us in 2005 visited us again in 2014.
We had Tendai Biti walking away, again forming PDP. Morgan Tsvangirai remained with the MDC-T.
Fast forward, we brought these forces together.
MDC, green, PDP [and] we formed MDC Alliance.
We went to the election in 2018 under the MDC Alliance banner.
We contested the election, the elections did not produce the desired result.
Morgan somehow, he fell ill and he was not in a position to continue with his duties.
He created this mess that we find ourselves in today.
He appointed president Nelson Chamisa and engineer (Elias) Mudzuri into the mainstream of the MDC as the vice-president, we had a vice-president who was elected through a congress which was Dr Thokozani Khupe.
There were fissures there to a certain extent that Thokozani Khupe was almost burnt in a hut in Buhera during the funeral of the late Morgan Tsvangirai.
So that was MDC Alliance, that was the journey.
And there was Douglas Mwonzora who claimed that the MDC Alliance was his and we were [also] MDC Alliance so it was difficult for us because that was the convention of political parties, so there was nothing like MDC Alliance [as] it was a covenant of the political parties coming together.
So we had a problem right?
So given those matrices then we decided that let us form a political party.
We ran an election under MDC Alliance, president Chamisa ran as the presidential candidate of the MDC Alliance, the structures, organic structures from district, provincial to national level, and if you compare the results Mr Trevor in 2018 were quite reasonable figures.
That was when we reached a two million mark that we had never really reached before.
So we formed CCC from MDC Alliance.
So we are an offshoot of MDC Alliance.
So, there is nothing we can say which can disassociate ourselves from MDC Alliance, we are MDC.
It is just a change of name, change of character, a change of colour, change of logo, change of symbol.
That is what defines us from MDC Alliance, our umbilical cord, our DNA, we are MDC.
TN: So you have been alive to these issues all along? I get the sense you actually are deep into it.
ST: Yes.
TN: Why now? Why have you decided to raise these issues now?
ST: Well…
TN: What are you trying to fix now?
ST: We claim that we are an alternative, and the reason why we are in these politics is that there is an agreement that Zanu-PF has deviated from the principles and values of the liberation struggle.
We thought that as an alternative we need to complete the unfinished business of the liberation struggle, but we cannot do that without a constitution.
We cannot do that without a collective a decision-making process. I am coming from labour.
We cannot do that without debating and exhausting these issues.
We cannot do that without having a thorough debate on issues, fundamental issues for that matter.
Be it policy, be it political mantra.
So we find ourselves in a situation that we cannot replace Zanu-PF, we cannot see the errors of Zanu PF, yet we are doing worse than Zanu-PF.
Under Robert Gabriel Mugabe we never witnessed a situation where people can operate without a constitution.
Where people can go into a politburo bureau and Robert Gabriel Mugabe decides without really having this decision discussed at the cabinet.
Even if he had a theory of a policy that he wants to push he would put it in for a discussion and debate it…
TN: But still my question is why now? Why now?
ST: The elections are gone.
TN: Yeah.
ST: Done and dusted.
TN: Yes.
ST: So we rather put our house in order before 2028. We should not wait for 2028 and raise these issues.
Let us raise them now so that we build a force, so that we do the [introspection] and see how the gaps that we can close as a movement and move forward.
Pick ourselves, look at the election, how did we lose the elections?
Are there issues that we are doing right? Are there issues that we are not doing right?
Are we off the path from when we started this movement?
What are those issues and these are the issues that we are raising now so that by the time we get to 2028 we have got an oiled machine which is a movement, which is an alternative which is ready to take the political path.
“In Conversation With Trevor” is a weekly show broadcast on YouTube.com//InConversationWithTrevor. The conversations are broadcast to you by Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services. The conversations are sponsored by WestProp Holdings.

By Dorrothy Moyo | ZimEye | In a divergence from fellow party members, Fadzayi Mahere, a prominent figure within the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has declared her reluctance to withdraw from Parliament despite mounting public pressure and calls for the CCC to leave Mnangagwa’s controversial legislative body.

Mahere, who represents Mt Pleasant in Parliament, explained her decision on X (formerly Twitter), stating that a withdrawal by CCC legislators could potentially grant ZANU PF the leeway to amend the Constitution unchecked, potentially leading to the establishment of a one-party state.

“I can assure you that if the @CCCZimbabwe’s Citizens’ National Assembly resolves that we should withdraw from Parliament, we will,” Mahere affirmed in her statement.

This announcement stands in contrast to the sentiments expressed by Darlington Chigumbu, the CCC Member of Parliament for Budiriro. Chigumbu voiced his willingness to quit Parliament, emphasizing his concern for CCC leader Nelson Chamisa, stating that he does not want to see Chamisa accused of actions he has not committed.

The backdrop of these decisions is the tumultuous political landscape since the November 2017 coup, with accusations against Mnangagwa’s party ranging from changing election results arbitrarily to engaging in outrageous conduct.

Mahere’s remarks come as Chigumbu broke ranks to express readiness to leave Parliament.

“President @nelsonchamisa is one person I know who listens to other people’s views.

“If the electorate is to be angry with anyone regarding tomfoolery happening at Parly then that anger must be directed to US the MPs not the president. It is us who must be clear and leave Parly,” wrote Chigumbu.

As discussions within the CCC unfold, the contrasting perspectives within the party highlight the complex considerations surrounding the decision to either remain in or withdraw from Mnangagwa’s parliament.

The Illusion of Parliamentary Power: Examining ZANU PF’s Unchecked Authority in Zimbabwe | ANALYSIS

In the face of mounting challenges to the democratic process in Zimbabwe, the claim that parliamentary presence can curtail ZANU PF’s stranglehold on power appears increasingly dubious. Fadzayi Mahere contends that staying in Parliament can prevent constitutional amendments, yet a closer examination of recent events paints a starkly different picture.

The recall of elected MPs, orchestrated by ZANU PF, exemplifies the party’s ability to manipulate parliamentary dynamics to its advantage. Despite Mahere’s optimism, the party has successfully implemented outrageous changes, such as the recalls, undermining the efficacy of parliamentary resistance.

Historical precedents reveal a troubling pattern of ZANU PF’s blatant disregard for parliamentary oversight. The 2017 removal of President Robert Mugabe through military intervention and the subsequent 2018 overthrow of Nelson Chamisa’s government underscore the party’s willingness to circumvent established democratic processes.

The tragic events of January 2019, where ZANU PF responded to fuel price protests with violence, killing 17 and subjecting over 50 women to rape, further highlight the party’s ability to act with impunity. Despite parliamentary pressure, ZANU PF proceeded without restraint, calling into question the efficacy of parliamentary influence in halting such atrocities.

The controversial 2023 elections, marked by ZANU PF’s use of army personnel within the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to manipulate results, serve as another stark example of the party’s unhindered actions. The ability to alter election outcomes and distribute parliamentary seats with impunity undermines any claim that parliamentary presence alone can act as a deterrent.

In light of this troubling history, Mahere’s assertion that her presence in Parliament can prevent ZANU PF from changing the Constitution seems increasingly unfounded. The stark reality is that ZANU PF’s actions have consistently demonstrated an ability to operate beyond the reach of parliamentary influence, raising critical questions about the effectiveness of the current democratic framework in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono has reiterated his call for the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) to withdraw from Parliament. He stated that they will only make empty noise in parliament as they are unable to stop the ruling ZANU PF party from making decisions due to their majority.

Chin’ono argues that staying would give legitimacy to ZANU PF’s corrupt rule. Fadzayi Mahere, a prominent CCC member, responded by saying that if instructed by the Citizens’ National Assembly, the party’s legislators would withdraw from parliament. However, Mahere highlighted the potential consequences of withdrawal, such as ZANU PF amending the constitution and creating a one-party state. She also questioned the effectiveness of parliamentary committees and the lack of citizen input in legislation.

Chin’ono remains unconvinced of the opposition’s usefulness in parliament. In a post, the journalist said:

It makes a lot of sense for ZANUPF to want CCC to stay in parliament because an immediate CCC mass withdrawal from parliament will create a massive international political crisis of legitimacy and credibility for ZANUPF and the regime. It will affect reengagement sideshows and international financial debt relief talks. It will also bring back the issue of the sham election on the table, something that ZANUPF has successfully hidden through the Tshabangu fraud by putting CCC in survival mode. Mnangagwa and ZANUPF know that they will immediately become Southern Africa’s North Korea if CCC pulls out! Imagine a parliament with just ZANUPF MPs and a few Tshabangu MPs. ZANUPF is going to bribe anyone who can influence CCC to stay in parliament because it knows that CCC won’t be able to stop anything on the ZANUPF parliamentary agenda now that it has Two-Thirds majority. CCC will be going to parliament just to make empty noises, that is why CCC is needed in parliament by the regime to create a facade of democracy.

Chin’ono further expressed his belief that countries whose ambassadors have close ties with ZANU PF will persuade the CCC to remain in parliament. He said these countries and their governments would not want to engage with a pariah state without opposition in parliament. They would want to show success back home, so they would encourage the CCC to stay.

In addition to foreign nations’ influence, Chin’ono believes that the CCC will face difficulties from MPs who are primarily motivated by salary, perks, and personal gain, including those using parliament as a stepping stone for international jobs. He argues that few politicians in Zimbabwe’s opposition are genuinely committed to the struggle, and many are more interested in personal opportunities. 

Zimbabwe held special elections on Saturday for nine seats in Parliament after opposition lawmakers were removed from their positions and disqualified from running again.

The opposition called it an illegal push by the ruling Zanu-PF party to bolster its parliamentary majority and possibly change the constitution.

This may allow President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 81, who was re-elected for a second and final term in August amid international and regional criticism, to run for another term.

All nine opposition lawmakers from the Citizens Coalition for Change party that were removed were elected in the national vote in August.

But an official claiming to be the secretary-general of the party recalled them from their positions in the weeks after that election.

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa said the official, Sengezo Tshabangu, held no position with the party and his instructions should be ignored.

But Zimbabwean courts recognized Tshabangu’s authority, ruled to remove the opposition MPs and declared them on Thursday ineligible to run.

“This is not an election. This is not democracy,” opposition deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba told The Associated Press.

Another late-night court ruling Friday left the ZANU-PF candidate set to win one of the seats in the capital, Harare, uncontested.

The CCC said on the eve of the special elections that it had launched an appeal with the Supreme Court, demanding that eight of its candidates appear on the ballots.

It didn’t list a name for the Harare seat.

The main opposition party said the removal of its lawmakers is a brazen attempt by the ruling party to increase its control in Parliament and has accused Zanu-PF, which has been in power since the southern African country’s independence in 1980, of using the courts to help it do that.

The CCC said ZANU-PF was using Tshabangu and the courts to “decimate” the opposition.

“The battle lines have been clearly drawn,” the CCC said Saturday in a statement on social media site X.

“The actions of the court officials who contributed to the demise of democracy in Zimbabwe will be recorded in the country’s history.”

Zanu-PF won 177 out of 280 parliamentary seats in the national election but needs another 10 seats to gain the two-thirds majority it requires to change the constitution.

That would allow it to remove term limits for presidents, among other things.

Saturday’s special elections are just the start.

Tshabangu has recalled dozens more opposition lawmakers, local councilors and mayors. More elections are due in the coming months.

Rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have said Zanu-PF is using institutions like the courts and the police force to suppress opposition and criticism.

The U.S. State Department said last week in the run-up to the special elections that it was placing visa restrictions on Zimbabwean individuals “believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Zimbabwe.”

It said they had been involved in “excluding members of the political opposition from electoral processes,” but didn’t name anyone.

Zanu-PF has denied any links to Tshabangu and his recall of opposition lawmakers, calling it an internal squabble in the CCC. The ruling party’s spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa said Zanu-PF is not responsible for the “chaos and disorder” within the opposition.

Mnangagwa’s term is due to end in 2028 and some within his party have called for him to remain past the current two-term limit.

He came to power in 2017 following a coup that removed autocrat Robert Mugabe, who was Zimbabwe’s leader for 37 years.

A 17 year old teenager from Harare has started a Save A Child organization which seeks to assist children suffering from cancer.

President of the organisation Shaun Chiworeso said the Save a Child programme started in September and is a registered organization.

He noted that it has been self-sponsored ever since it started, and they can’t exclude other individuals who have been assisting us financially through donations.

“Save a child does not have any physical branches but we are connected online, it has recruited young people from all around Zimbabwe from Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo and Gweru, we work online,” Chiworeso said.

He said there is a total number of about 85 members in the programme, it has a team that distributes goods around the country, and through their interactions, they come across patients.

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu says the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s appointment of two vice presidents before his death is to blame for the chaos engulfing the opposition.

Tshabangu (ST), who has become infamous for recalling CCC elected representatives while claiming that they were no longer members of the party, made the claims on the platform In Conversation with Trevor hosted by Alpha Media Holdings chairman Trevor Ncube (TN).

He was trying to make a link between CCC and MDC Alliance, which he claims birthed the Nelson Chamisa-led party.

Below are excerpts from the interview.

TN: Sengezo Tshabangu, welcome to In Conversation with Trevor.

ST: My pleasure Uncle Trevor. It is pleasing to be here.

TN: It is a pleasure having you here. In the introduction there, Sengezo Tshabangu, claims to be the interim secretary general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

A number of people are saying you were never elected interim secretary general.

There was never a gathering where you were elected to be the interim secretary general? What do you say to that?

ST: Well, Trevor the issues are before the courts, but I will scratch from the surface. There are so many people who have challenged my authority, challenged my existence, some are even failing to pronounce my name, which is a direct indictment to the people that I represent, to the tribe that I come from.

So yes…

TN: Some are spelling your name with a ‘c-h’?

ST: Yeah with a ‘c-h’. It is unheard of. Yes, there are people who do not know Tshabangu, but these people I have worked with them for years so I think it is a direct attack to the the region, to the people, to the clan where I come from.

So, I do not expect that people that I worked with for so many years can still misspell my name, pronounce it in an unreasonable fashion, it’s an unheard of, but well I will come back to that.

Now, to the point of my appointment, the same process that really appointed president Nelson Chamisa to be the president of the CCC, and also to be the presidential candidate is the same process in which I was elected.

The strategy of ambiguity, so we will discuss these things after the court because they are at the centre of our courts, so it would be unfair for me to really discuss those matters.

TN: So you say you are the interim secretary general as a result of the strategy of ambiguity? Strategic ambiguity as it is?

ST: Absolutely.

TN: Do you want to unpack that? What does that mean?

ST: Well you see we represent the party.

We are an offshoot of the MDC Alliance. I sat in the national council, the national executive, that decided the departure point from the MDC Alliance to the CCC, because there was a challenge that we were going to the elections and Douglas Mwonzora and his team they had taken the name.

So part of the resolutions was that let us have an election strategy, let us form a political party, let us have a new slogan, let us have a different name altogether, different colour.

That is what we agreed.

We were using the constitution of the MDC Alliance, that is what gave birth, that is the paternity process that gave birth to the CCC that we find ourselves in.

But along the way, you realise that that leadership had the likes of Welshman Ncube, had the likes of Tendai Biti, Kore as the deputy, a third deputy president, Amos Chibaya and all you name them.

Along the way the strategy of ambiguity came into play.

We had another CCC, these people, their positions were taken off.

You go to a rally, you would have a president of the party sitting on the floor, you have the president of the party launching the campaign as if he is launching an independent campaign.

There was no organic chemistry of the party working together.

The organs of the party were dissolved.

So there was within the CCC a formation of this structure, which is structureless.

I think it is before the court maybe, but that’s the surface of it.

So, we have this kind of  an animal, a creature which you do not even understand the head, the tail of it which is running within the CCC, so that is the strategy of ambiguity that produced the results that we find ourselves in today.

That even failed to even produce candidates that produced the flawed election that produced the result that is still questionable even today.

That produced an incomplete electoral process. So through this strategy…

TN: But some people would say Tshabangu that you are saying the CCC was an offshoot of MDC-A.

And yet some people say No, that it was a completely different organisation.

I think Nelson Chamisa actually pronounced that No this is something completely different, it is not related to MDC.

 Am I getting things wrong there?

Although I must admit that what has happened in the past three or so years, in particular the past two years and last six months has totally confused me.

So some of the questions I am asking are genuinely wanting clarification. Was it a new party or is it an offshoot of MDC-A?

ST: We are an offshoot of MDC-A  because what gave birth to this new outfit it was the constitution.

We registered the constitution, which we changed and put the CCC but with the same organs that we were using in the MDC Alliance.

 So we never came from heaven, we were born by MDC Alliance.

There was MDC-T… I will take you through from when we started this party.

In 1999 there was a convention where we formed the MDC without a name, without people’s face as a symbol, but it was an MDC which comprised of the churches, labour unions. I’m a student of labour.

We are the people who formed the MDC, we are the umbilical cord of the MDC.

We ran with MDC until 2005, where we started to question the leadership of Morgan Tsvangirai the late. May his soul rest in peace.

 There was no collective decision process.

We went to the senate in 2005, there was a debate, and that caused the split where the professor Welshman Ncube walked away from the MDC and he remained MDC and then we formed MDC-T to differentiate between us and Welshman Ncube.

So that was the departure point, the first split of the MDC.

We moved on and we had a caveat that we are the MDC-T, we identified ourselves with the leader not with the constitution [or] with the values [and] with the principles where we formed from.

Then in 2014 the same dark cloud that visited us in 2005 visited us again in 2014.

We had Tendai Biti walking away, again forming PDP. Morgan Tsvangirai remained with the MDC-T.

Fast forward, we brought these forces together.

MDC, green, PDP [and] we formed MDC Alliance.

We went to the election in 2018 under the MDC Alliance banner.

We contested the election, the elections did not produce the desired result.

 Morgan somehow, he fell ill and he was not in a position to continue with his duties.

He created this mess that we find ourselves in today.

He appointed president Nelson Chamisa and engineer (Elias) Mudzuri into the mainstream of the MDC as the vice-president, we had a vice-president who was elected through a congress which was Dr Thokozani Khupe.

There were fissures there to a certain extent that Thokozani Khupe was almost burnt in a hut in Buhera during the funeral of the late Morgan Tsvangirai.

So that was MDC Alliance, that was the journey.

And there was Douglas Mwonzora who claimed that the MDC Alliance was his and we were [also] MDC Alliance so it was difficult for us because that was the convention of political parties, so there was nothing like MDC Alliance [as] it was a covenant of the political parties coming together.

So we had a problem right?

 So given those matrices then we decided that let us form a political party.

We ran an election under MDC Alliance, president Chamisa ran as the presidential candidate of the MDC Alliance, the structures, organic structures from district, provincial to national level, and if you compare the results Mr Trevor in 2018 were quite reasonable figures.

That was when we reached a two million mark that we had never really reached before.

So we formed CCC from MDC Alliance.

So we are an offshoot of MDC Alliance.

So, there is nothing we can say which can disassociate ourselves from MDC Alliance, we are MDC.

It is just a change of name, change of character, a change of colour, change of logo, change of symbol.

That is what defines us from MDC Alliance, our umbilical cord, our DNA, we are MDC.

TN: So you have been alive to these issues all along?  I get the sense you actually are deep into it.

ST: Yes.

TN: Why now? Why have you decided to raise these issues now?

ST: Well…

TN: What are you trying to fix now?

ST: We claim that we are an alternative, and the reason why we are in these politics is that there is an agreement that Zanu-PF has deviated from the principles and values of the liberation struggle.

We thought that as an alternative we need to complete the unfinished business of the liberation struggle, but we cannot do that without a constitution.

We cannot do that without a collective a decision-making process. I am coming from labour.

We cannot do that without debating and exhausting these issues.

 We cannot do that without having a thorough debate on issues, fundamental issues for that matter.

Be it policy, be it political mantra.

So we find ourselves in a situation that we cannot replace Zanu-PF, we cannot see the errors of Zanu  PF, yet we are doing worse than Zanu-PF.

Under Robert Gabriel Mugabe we never witnessed a situation where people can operate without a constitution.

 Where people can go into a politburo bureau and Robert Gabriel Mugabe decides without really having this decision discussed at the cabinet.

 Even if he had a theory of a policy that he wants to push he would put it in for a discussion and debate it…

TN: But still my question is why now? Why now?

ST: The elections are gone.

TN: Yeah.

ST: Done and dusted.

TN: Yes.

ST: So we rather put our house in order before 2028. We should not wait for 2028 and raise these issues.

 Let us raise them now so that we build a force, so that we do the [introspection] and see how the gaps that we can close as a movement and move forward.

Pick ourselves, look at the election, how did we lose the elections?

Are there issues that we are doing right? Are there issues that we are not doing right?

Are we off the path from when we started this movement?

What are those issues and these are the issues that we are raising now so that by the time we get to 2028 we have got an oiled machine which is a movement, which is an alternative which is ready to take the political path.

“In Conversation With Trevor” is a weekly show broadcast on YouTube.com//InConversationWithTrevor.  The conversations are broadcast to you by Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services. The conversations are sponsored by WestProp Holdings.

By A Correspondent- Former Kambuzuma Member of Parliament Tinashe Maduza of Zanu-PF appeared before magistrate Marehwanazvo Gofa on Friday facing fraud charges.

Maduza (35) and his accomplice Rasta Phiri (48) were remanded in custody to December 12 for bail application.

The complainant is Victor Magenga (38).

Prosecutor Anesu Chirenje said sometime in 2014, Maduza  and his co-accused invaded some open space in Harare’s Warren Park and started illegally selling stands for residential purposes as a private entity called Gracelands Housing Co-operative with more than 300 beneficiaries.

Sometime in October 2019, they sold a piece of un-serviced land to Magenga for US$6 000.

They failed to fulfil their promise to service the stand, and Magenga became suspicious as the duo was evasive.

Magenga later discovered that the duo did not own the land in question and made a police report, leading to their arrest.

The Mayor of Bulawayo and prominent member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), David Coltart, found himself at the center of a political storm after urging voters to support ZAPU candidates in the upcoming by-elections. The move drew sharp criticism from former Cabinet Minister Professor Jonathan Moyo, who accused Coltart of illegal campaigning on election day.

Coltart took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration after CCC MPs were allegedly barred from contesting in the December 9 by-election. He tweeted, “Now that our 5 MP candidates in Bulawayo have been unlawfully barred from standing for election, I urge citizens to vote where possible for @ZapuPublicity ZAPU MP candidates. ZAPU is a democratic party and they will serve our interests much better than Zanu PF or pseudo Zanu PF candidates.”

The tweet immediately caught the attention of Professor Jonathan Moyo, who responded with a scathing rebuke. Moyo accused Coltart of knowingly engaging in illegal campaign activities, highlighting Coltart’s legal background and extensive political experience.

“AND HERE YOU ARE CAMPAIGNING ON ELECTION DAY. It’s illegal, you know it; not least because you are a lawyer and a politician who has contested in many elections before,” Moyo remarked.

Moyo went on to criticize Coltart for what he perceived as a blatant disregard for the law, accusing him of considering himself above the rules. “Shame on you, David Coltart. You can say and scream all you want, with all the support of Chamisa’s trolls, but you and your lot are an embarrassment and a danger to society BECAUSE you never ever play by the rules; no, you are always a law unto yourselves.”

The former Cabinet Minister also took the opportunity to highlight what he characterized as Coltart’s history of bending the rules to suit his own interests. Moyo referenced a past incident where Coltart allegedly claimed victory in a community candidate selection caucus despite finishing last among all candidates. Moyo asserted that Coltart’s actions epitomized a dangerous mindset contributing to the current state of Zimbabwe.

“Zimbabwe is in a mess because of your type: one law for yourselves, as the self-proclaimed demo,” Moyo’s response abruptly ended, leaving room for speculation on the continuation of his thoughts.

David Coltart later deleted the tweet on X.

The exchange between Coltart and Moyo has ignited a debate on the role of politicians in adhering to election laws and whether advocating for alternative candidates on election day is a violation of electoral norms.

By A Correspondent- Two men who were part of a group that had been hired to erect a perimeter fence at a mine in Filabusi were trapped underground and died after they had sneaked into a shaft to steal gold ore.

The deceased were identified as Nobert Banhu (24) and Naison Moyo (31), under Chief Skhobokhobo, Nkayi.

ZRP spokesperson in Matabeleland South Province Inspector Loveness Mangena confirmed the incident to the Southern Eye. She said:

I can confirm that I received a report on an incident in Insiza Mine in Filabusi. The circumstances are that on December 4, the two deceased with other mine workers spent the whole day fencing the mine.

It is reported that during the night the deceased connived to steal gold ore from the mine and entered the shaft.

A security guard who was doing routine checks realised that one of the mineshafts had collapsed.

The security guard alerted other mine workers who then retrieved the bodies.

By A Correspondent- Zanu PF has reclaimed 7 National Assembly seats from the 9 vacant seats following recalls by opposition CCC self imposed secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu.

The party won the Mabvuku- Tafara seat uncontested after Tshabangu failed to field his preferred candidate and the CCC candidate who had been recalled and filed his nomination Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi was barred from contesting.

Zanu PF won Beitbridge West, Binga North, Bulawayo South, Lupane East, Cowdray Park and Nketa. Tshabangu’s CCC won Lobengula Magwegwe and Mpopoma Mzilikazi.

By Showbiz Reporter | In a somber announcement today, Hamlet Matavire revealed that his grandfather, the esteemed father of the late singing legend Paul Matavire, has peacefully passed away at the age of 101.

The elder Matavire, renowned for penning the iconic phrase “Nhaiwe mwanangu Paurosi, wodyiroko?”, was not only a patriarch to the Matavire family but also a significant contributor to Zimbabwe’s musical legacy.

In an emotional statement, Hamlet Matavire expressed his grief, saying, “Yes, this is Paul Matavire’s father. This is the man who brought to the world the jewel of entertaining music in Zimbabwe.”

The legacy left by Paul Matavire’s father extends beyond his familial ties, resonating with the broader community that cherished his contributions to the country’s cultural tapestry.

“Rest in peace sekuru! You have lived,” Hamlet Matavire concluded, honoring the life and influence of the late patriarch. The nation mourns the loss of a cultural icon and extends condolences to the Matavire family during this difficult time.

By- Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) self-imposed interim secretary general Mr Sengezo Tshabangu has said the party will accept the outcome of the by-elections as to the CCC, what was key was seeing democracy at play.

So far, Zanu PF has grabbed three seats, which Nelson Chamisa’s aides won.

Tshabangu told the state media that elections were part of a democratic process which needed to be embraced and acknowledged, especially when the process was conducted in a free and fair set up without anyone being intimidated and coerced into participating.
“To us any outcome will be accepted although everyone knows that when you go into any contest, the objective is to win but also everyone knows that in this political game, it’s either you win or lose and you must be prepared to accept especially the losing part. It’s all part of democracy,” said Mr Tshabangu in an interview last night.
He said a free a fair election whose outcome was accepted by all participants was all what those who got into the struggle before them always wanted.
“These by-elections presented an opportunity for a democracy foundation as we look forward to 2028. We are of course concerned about the reported voter apathy because we know that any voter apathy has always benefited Zanu-PF,” said Mr Tshabangu.

Tshabangu caused tremors within the Zimbabwe body politic when he went on a recalling tirade after the August harmonised elections, which he said were necessitated by how his party conducted it’s selection process for the August 23 elections candidates.
-State media

By James Gwati- Poor voter turnout has hit a series of by-elections orchestrated by CCC impostor Sengezo Tshabangu, with Zanu PF successfully clinching three parliamentary seats, further fueling suspicions of collaboration between Tshabangu and the ruling party to weaken the opposition.

The constituencies of Mabvuku-Tafara, Cowdray Park, and Bulawayo South have all fallen into Zanu PF’s hands, a result of the Nelson Chamisa supporters’ widespread boycott of the by-elections.

Tshabangu Friday donated Mabvuku-Tafara seat to Zanu PF’s Pedzai Scott Sakupwanya.

In Cowdray Park, Zanu PF’s Mujeyi Arthur secured victory with 1,765 votes, defeating Tshabangu’s Vusimuzi Chirwa.

The voter turnout was notably low, with less than 4,000 people casting their votes out of over 20,000 registered voters.

Similarly, in the Bulawayo South Constituency, Zanu PF’s Rajeshkumari Modi emerged victorious with 1,608 votes, dealing a blow to Tshabangu’s candidate Sithole James, while the voter turnout remained disappointingly low.

These by-elections were prompted by Tshabangu’s recall of CCC Members of Parliament (MPs), claiming they were no longer party members.

The CCC has expressed concerns that Tshabangu’s actions may be part of a collaboration with the ruling party, aimed at securing a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

Such a majority would potentially pave the way for smoother amendments to the Constitution, raising questions about the integrity of the democratic process.