By- A senior Zanu PF official and Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the Government would regulate political parties in light of the opposition-triggered recalls in Parliament, which have proved to be costly on the economy as they are draining the fiscus.

This comes in the wake of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) recall of Members of Parliament barely two weeks after the opening of Parliament by President Mnangagwa.

CCC interim secretary general Mr recalled 15 National Assembly members and nine Senators as chaos continues to unfold in the beleaguered opposition party. 

While there are contestations within the opposition following the latest wave of recalls, it appears for the past 10 years, the recalling of MPs and councillors has become the norm post-elections. 

Following the 2013 elections, MDC-T recalled 21 MPs including Mr Tendai Biti after a group of legislators had called for leadership renewal within the party. 

At the time the late Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was at the helm of the MDC-T.

In the post-2018 elections, the MDC Alliance was also rocked by another wave of recalls after Dr Thokozani Khupe assumed leadership of the opposition party before Mr Douglas Mwonzora took over its reins.

The main opposition now rebranded CCC led by Mr Nelson Chamisa is back to its default settings of recalling members claiming they no longer belong to the organisation.

Issues to do with the imposition of candidates and failure to have internal structures to address concerns are being attributed to divisions within the party.

Addressing the media in Harare yesterday, Mr Chamisa seemed to shift blame from his party, ordering elected CCC MPs and councillors not to perform their constitutional mandate.

In an interview yesterday, Minister Ziyambi said the recalls are a strain on the Treasury as the Government is forced to divert funds towards financing by-elections instead of forging ahead with development.

“The Constitution and the Electoral Act state that when a vacancy occurs within 90 days we must go for an election. And when we go for an election, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission must deploy people to do all the necessary preparations and this is an unnecessary expenditure that has to be borne by the taxpayers” he said.

“That money could have been used for development projects.”

Minister Ziyambi said out of the 15 legislators who have been recalled, 12 of them have constituencies, which effectively calls for by-elections in the affected areas.

“We could put this money to good use such as improving the road to Victoria Falls and paying our contractor. We now have to satisfy the constitutional requirements which require that we conduct by-elections within 90 days and mind you we are just coming from another election,” he said.

Minister Ziyambi said to address some of the pitfalls that the opposition has brought, the country should start a conversation on regulating political parties.

Political parties are not regulated in the country and they just need to notify the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of their intention to contest. 

“I think going forward we need to have a discussion, conversations in ensuring that political parties are registered. They deposit their constitution and show that they are organised. The situation that obtains now is that we have had political parties that would just sprout towards elections,” said Minister Ziyambi.

“You have a coalition of individuals with no structure that is recognised and soon after elections they start fighting. You can’t tell who is who, and perhaps what needs to be discussed is that let us have proper political party registration so that all those parties without structures will not be able to contest.”

Political analyst Mr Methuseli Moyo said while the recalls are costly to the economy, they are a testimony that the opposition has not taken notes from its past mistakes. 

“The opposition does not seem to learn from history. Once more, they are at each other’s throats. Consequently, there might soon be by-elections, and this is an expense,” he said.

“From the opposition side, the by-elections may prove costly as some of the recalled MPs may lose the by-elections.”

Mr Moyo said Mr Chamisa’s decision directing elected CCC officials to stop executing their roles shows his selfish endeavours.

He said the opposition should engage its members as opposed to posturing and bickering.

“He must engage Tshabangu and others and rectify the issues that are the source of the conflict. The infighting in the CCC is of no governance matter, but structures in the party. Mr Chamisa must stop bullying fellow leaders and penalising the party,” said Mr Moyo.

Constitutional lawyer Professor Lovemore Madhuku said in his view, the Constitutional provision allowing political parties to recall members is what is flawed.

“The clause that parties can recall members must be removed from the Constitution. MPs are elected by the people and then recalled by the parties. So the problem is not within opposition parties, but the Constitution and that clause should be removed.” Herald

By- The number of Zimbabweans now living in South Africa has surpassed 1 million, as revealed in the 2022 South Africa Census.

The authority also said this figure constitutes 45% of foreign nationals in Mzansi.

Stats SA said everyone in South Africa, including foreign nationals, was accounted for in the February 2022 Census.

The recent report indicates a modest rise in the population of individuals born outside of South Africa.

The data reveals that the majority of these foreign nationals are male young adults, aged between 20-44.

A significant portion of them come from five countries: Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi, and the United Kingdom (UK). Notably, these countries have retained their rankings since the 2011 Census.

Breakdown of foreign nationals in the 2022 Census:

– Zimbabwe: 1.012 million (45%)

– Mozambique: 416,564 (18.7%)

– Lesotho: 227,770 (10.2%)

– Malawi: 198,807 (8.9%)

– UK: 61,282 (2.8%)

Addressing the complexities of documented versus undocumented immigrants, Calvin Molongoana, the Census project director at Stats SA, emphasised that every individual present in South Africa in February of the previous year was included in the count.

This encompasses tourists and those in transit. “Anyone within the country’s borders, regardless of their legal status, documented or undocumented, was counted,” Molongoana stated. 

However, he clarified that members of the diplomatic corps and other diplomatic officials were excluded, as they are recorded by their respective nations.

On the topic of migration patterns, Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke highlighted that the Western Cape, Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga provinces experienced “positive net-migration.”

This indicates that these provinces saw more incoming migration than outgoing. Conversely, Limpopo recorded the highest negative net-migration, closely followed by the Eastern Cape.

In terms of “lifetime in-migration” – where individuals have remained in a province since birth – Gauteng emerged at the forefront with 5.18 million people. The Western Cape followed with 2.04 million residents.

IOL NEWS

By- Self-imposed Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) secretary general, Mr Sengezo Tshabangu says he can’t rule out more recalls as he targets getting rid of what he says are *people abusing their proximity to the party leader Mr Nelson Chamisa.”

Mr Tshabangu, who says he is the party’s acting secretary general, speaking through his spokesperson Mr Khaliphani Phugeni said the whole recall process was meant to cleanse the opposition party of individuals who are going against the ethos and values of the party. He said the process is never targeted at eventually removing Mr Chamisa from the leadership position, a gospel being pushed by those opposed to the recalls.
On Monday, Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda wrote to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s chief elections officer, advising that in terms of Section 39 (1) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) vacancies had arisen in parliament after 15 opposition members ceased to be CCC party members on October 4.
This followed a letter to Adv Mudenda by Mr Tshabangu advising that the 15 national assembly members and 17 councillors had ceased to be party members. The 15 recalled national assembly representatives are, Mr Ereck Gono (Lobengula-Magwegwe), Mr Nicola Watson (Bulawayo South), Mr Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Binga North), Mr Bright Vanya (Lupane), Mr Desmond Makaza (Mpopoma-Mzilikazi), Mr Obert Manduna (Nketa), Mr Morgan Ncube (Beitbridge West), Mr Pastor Raphael Sibanda (Cowdray Park), Mr Febian Kufahakutizwi (Mabvuku-Tafara)
Mr Evidence Zana (Youth Representation), Ms Janeth Dube, Ms Sitabile Mlilo, Ms Nomathemba Sibanda, Ms Jasmine Toffa and Ms Velisizwe Nkomo (all Proportional Representation).
Mr Phugeni said they were seized with presentations from different parts of the country where people are expressing their unhappiness over self-imposed candidates.
“We are getting a lot of presentations from different parts of the entire country, people are not happy about persons who either imposed themselves by name dropping or abuse. Others went as far as faking conversations where they created false impressions that they are in charge just by some social media conversations with president Chamisa and that he has ordered that so and so must go and contest here and there, so those are all the issues that we are attending to. If there is a veracity to any of those claims, then yes indeed you can expect more action,” said Mr Phugeni.
Asked in what capacity was Mr Tshabangu making the recalls since the party had no structures, Mr Phugeni said the actions were being taken by an interim secretary general, in the same manner that Mr Chamisa in his capacity as the party interim president, has been.
He said there is no dispute that there are no structures as yet in the CCC.
MR Khaliphani Phugeni
“As has been made clear that the office is that of the interim secretary general, there is no dispute that there are no structures as yet but just as much as we do have the office of the interim leader right now in the form of our president, the change champion in chief, there is the office of the interim secretary general to do the day to day communications and administration of the party and it is in that capacity that we have acted, having travelled throughout the country where we met party cadres and this is their decision by the way that the party can not afford to veer off the correct path. If we are going to democratise Zimbabwe, we must start within ourselves and we frown upon imposition issues. Undermining local people who must have a right to choose their representatives must not be allowed, no amount of manipulation will be tolerated,” said Mr Phugeni.
Mr Phugeni rubbished insinuations that the real target in all this was Mr Chamisa, with the plan being to recall him and then call for an elective congress before the end of the year.
“This(recall of Mr Chamisa) is all meant to create a wedge between the president and the acting secretary general. There is no intention whatsoever, the president is not the target of this action. We even believe that he is the right person to lead us, in line with our founding values, principles, character and nature. Of course, those who want to survive by name-dropping, abusing access and proximity to him would want to characterize this citizens’ backed action as a target on his back., not at all, the president is very safe. This move, if anything, strengthens the party, its office bearers and in the long run as people will see it will put the president in good light and standing before the community and in line with the objectives of the citizens’ movement,” said Mr Phugeni.

-State media

Sengezo Tshabangu, the alleged mastermind behind the recalls of 15 CCC National Assembly representatives, has expressed the possibility of more recalls targeting individuals he believes are misusing their proximity to party leader Nelson Chamisa.

Tshabangu, claiming to be the party’s acting secretary general, stated through his spokesperson Mr Khaliphani Phugeni that the recall process aims to remove individuals who go against the party’s values, denying any intention to remove Chamisa from his leadership position.

The Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, informed the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the vacancies created by the cessation of CCC party membership by the 15 opposition members. Tshabangu had previously written to Mudenda, notifying him of the party members’ disassociation.

The 15 recalled national assembly representatives are, Mr Ereck Gono (Lobengula-Magwegwe), Mr Nicola Watson (Bulawayo South), Mr Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Binga North), Mr Bright Vanya (Lupane), Mr Desmond Makaza (Mpopoma-Mzilikazi), Mr Obert Manduna (Nketa), Mr Morgan Ncube (Beitbridge West), Mr Pastor Raphael Sibanda (Cowdray Park), Mr Febian Kufahakutizwi (Mabvuku-Tafara), Mr Evidence Zana (Youth Representation), Ms Janeth Dube, Ms Sitabile Mlilo, Ms Nomathemba Sibanda, Ms Jasmine Toffa and Ms Velisizwe Nkomo (all Proportional Representation).

According to Mr. Phugeni, they have received numerous complaints from people across the country expressing dissatisfaction with self-imposed candidates. He told the Chronicle:

We are getting a lot of presentations from different parts of the entire country, people are not happy about persons who either imposed themselves by name dropping or abuse.

Others went as far as faking conversations where they created false impressions that they are in charge just by some social media conversations with President Chamisa and that he has ordered that so and so must go and contest here and there, so those are all the issues that we are attending to. If there is a veracity to any of those claims, then yes indeed you can expect more action.

When questioned about Tshabangu’s authority to make the recalls in the absence of party structures, Phugeni said the actions were being carried out by an interim secretary general, similar to how Chamisa, as the interim president, has been functioning. He said:

As has been made clear that the office is that of the interim secretary general, there is no dispute that there are no structures as yet but just as much as we do have the office of the interim leader right now in the form of our president, the change champion in chief, there is the office of the interim secretary general to do the day to day communications and administration of the party and it is in that capacity that we have acted, having travelled throughout the country where we met party cadres and this is their decision by the way that the party can not afford to veer off the correct path.

If we are going to democratise Zimbabwe, we must start within ourselves and we frown upon imposition issues. Undermining local people who must have a right to choose their representatives must not be allowed, no amount of manipulation will be tolerated.

Phugeni dismissed suggestions that the real objective behind the recalls was to target Chamisa and remove him from his position as party leader. He emphasised that there was no intention to recall Chamisa and that he was considered the right person to lead the party based on its values, principles, character, and nature.

Phugeni stated that those who rely on name-dropping and misuse their access to Chamisa might misrepresent the recalls as an attack on him. He said in reality, the recalls strengthen the party and enhance Chamisa’s standing within the community.

The CCC party has given a 14-day deadline for the prompt reversal of recalls of its members. Failure to do so will result in political and diplomatic actions, including reaching out to organisations like the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The party announced on Wednesday 11 October 2023 that it was disengaging from official activities in the National Assembly, Senate and councils.

By A Correspondent- The deputy head boy of St George’s College who was also an upper sixth student died last night when his vehicle collided head-on with a Koala Park Abattoir truck along Harare Drive in Marlborough.

Witnesses claimed they were racing.

Pictures and videos of the tragic accident are doing the rounds on social media with netizens expressing their condolences on the loss of the students.

The accident has also ignited debate on whether parents should buy their children cars amid yet to be confirmed revelations that the deceased was over speeding hence the tragic collision.

We publish below the comments from citizens on social media.

By A Correspondent- The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has acknowledged the long queues that have formed at Forbes Border Post in Mutare due to a road traffic accident.

The accident occurred on October 3, 2023, involving four trucks, which led to the temporary closure of the exit channel and the sharing of the entry channel for all traffic.

ZIMRA said it was working with other agencies, partners, stakeholders, and authorities to clear the vehicles and trucks at the border. Despite efforts to clear the queues, commercial traffic accumulates overnight and during the day, resulting in queue build-up each morning when the entry point opens.

In a statement, ZIMRA said it has extended the operating hours of Forbes Border Post to accommodate the increased traffic. Read the statement:

The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) confirms that there have been long queues forming at Forbes Border Post in the past week.
ZIMRA is working in conjunction with other state agencies, partners, stakeholders and authorities to clear the vehicles and trucks at the border.

The long queues stemmed from an accident at the Forbes border Post on 3 October 2023 involving four trucks leading to the temporary closure of exit channel and sharing of the entry channel for all traffic resulting to traffic build-up.

The lane has since been cleared and from 5 to 7 October 2023, an average of 360 outbound trucks were cleared per day and on 8 and 9 October 2023, 592 and 656 outgoing trucks were cleared respectively.

The operating hours for Forbes Border Post were extended to stretch from 0600 hours to 2200 hours.

However, commercial traffic accumulates overnight and during the day leading to queue buildup each morning. This means that the entry point has to deal with long queues as soon as it opens.

Other reasons that might contribute to the increase in traffic at the Forbes Border Post could be the following:

1. The refurbished road network from Harare to Mutare then to Beira is enticing transporters to use the Forbes route creating congestion.

2. The Port of Beira is nearer as compared to Durban Port, which means there are less transport costs and turnaround times for both transporters and businesses. This has resulted in a surge in traffic to Beira via Forbes.

3. Beira Port has also increased its capacity and has become a preferred port for Africa’s imports and exports to the Far East.

4. An increase in fuel tankers (both Zimbabwean and foreign) exiting to Beira to get fuel for onward transportation to countries in the north. Some transporters have significantly increased their fleet size due to increased demands and business contracts.

5. The region’s sudden boom in the mining industry could be leading to increased exports of various minerals through Forbes Border Post.

6. The Beira Corridor is a critical feeder into and out of the North South Corridor and the shift preferences have led to an increase in its use.

However, the current border post infrastructure was not designed to handle high volumes of commercial traffic as there is hardly any parking space for commercial trucks. This has overstretched the spatial capacity for the handling of the commercial traffic influx. Its location is within constricted terrain which requires significant civil engineering for expansion.

The Munene River bridge between the Mozambican and Zimbabwean borders at Forbes has become a major bottleneck, allowing only one truck to cross at a time. ZIMRA has been in talks with their Mozambican counterparts to prioritize trucks entering Mozambique. However, this arrangement is inadequate as similar requests are made from the Mozambican side for traffic bound for Zimbabwe.

The Authority encourages clearing agents and traders to utilize pre-clearance facilities to reduce waiting times at the border. ZIMRA appreciates the cooperation of all stakeholders and is confident that traffic will return to normal levels by October 15, 2023. Long-term measures are also being considered to increase the border post’s capacity.

By A Correspondent- Zanu-PF has dismissed claims by CCC leader Nelson Chamisa that the ruling party was sponsoring recalls on opposition legislators and councillors in attempts to both fan division and destroy his party.

This follows the shock ouster of 24 party legislators and 17 councillors under a dubious directive issued by Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be acting as CCC secretary general.

Tshabangu, a virtually unknown figure until his bombshell recall order recently, wrote to national assembly speaker Jacob Mudenda claiming the affected legislators had ceased to be CCC members.

A fuming Chamisa said Wednesday the enemy was sponsoring what he found as a bid to destroy CCC.

“Stay away from CCC, hands off CCC, this is a citizens movement; you don’t just wake up one day from the streets in a drunken stupor to say I’m so and so,” Chamisa said of Tshabangu.

“In this movement, we do not have the position of secretary general. We have different roles and tasks.

“In this movement, we don’t give each other positions but we give each other tasks.

“Nobody can just wake up and recall our candidates.

“In fact, it is a Zanu-PF scheme … Zanu-PF is using certain people purporting to be CCC, who are not even in our books in terms of membership registry.”

Responding to the opposition leader, Zanu-PF acting Director for Information and Publicity Farai Marapira dismissed the claims saying Chamisa should stop dragging the ruling party’s name into the mire.

“Mr Chamisa has simply shown the depth of his ignorance on matters of statecraft,” Marapira said.

“Zanu-PF is a political party within this country. We do not instate or remove legislators from the opposition from any position.

“Mr Chamisa should stop pontificating and stop doing so much rhetoric at the expense of the progression of his party and his supporters.

“Mr Chamisa should take full responsibility that he is below par leader and that this problem is emanating from his party are solely his own fault and he should stop involving Zanu-PF in each and every malady that comes across his way.”

Marapira added, “We are not concerned with what he is going to do if he is going to remove his members that is his decision; we as Zanu-PF it have nothing to do with us.

“So, for him to say that Zanu-PF should reinstate people that have been removed by a letter from CCC is the absurdity of absurdities for this year.

“If any prizes are going to be given this year for the most disingenuous statement. I’m sure Mr Chamisa will be prize contender of these utterances he made.”

Kuwadzana, Harare, October 12, 2023 – A group of quick-thinking soldiers, who had just disembarked from a service bus in Kuwadzana, sprang into action on Sunday night, thwarting an armed robbery and facilitating the arrest of two wanted criminals.

The heroic intervention unfolded along the Harare-Bulawayo Road between Kuwadzana 6 and Dzivaresekwa.

The soldiers observed a motorist, identified as Freddy Chigumira, being accosted by a four-man gang. Without hesitation, they intervened, effectively apprehending one of the suspects, who later led police to the capture of another.

The two arrested suspects, Tafadzwa Chayambuka (29) and Simon Chihungwe (34), now face charges of murder, armed robbery, and attempted murder.

The story takes a darker turn as it is revealed that these criminals had been involved in a previous attack that tragically claimed the life of driver Talkmore Vinga on October 6. The incident dates back to September 22, when Mr. Vinga was sent to assist his colleague, Timothy Shambare, whose haulage truck had run out of fuel. The robbers attacked Mr. Vinga, inflicting serious injuries that ultimately led to his untimely death.

In a second count of attempted murder, the same gang targeted Freddy Chigumira on Sunday. He was attacked while briefly parked along Bulawayo Road. The assailants demanded cash and valuables, with Chigumira surrendering $1,200 and his cellphone. However, the soldiers’ timely arrival disrupted the robbery attempt.

The soldiers engaged in a pursuit, leading to the arrest of Tafadzwa Chayambuka, who subsequently assisted the police in capturing Simon Chihungwe.

The citizens of Kuwadzana are praising the bravery of the soldiers, who, through their rapid response, managed to save Chigumira and contributed to the apprehension of the criminal culprits. The two suspects, Chayambuka and Chihungwe, have appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs. Marehwanazvo Gofa, where they face charges of robbery, murder, and attempted murder.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the persistent security concerns on the Harare-Bulawayo Road, urging authorities to continue their efforts to ensure the safety of travelers on this route.-state media

Deputy Minister of Finance and Investment Promotion, Kudakwashe David Mnangagwa, warned businesses against rejecting the ZWL$50 note, stating that they could face significant penalties.

He urged Members of Parliament to report such incidents for investigation and potential sanctions. Mnangagwa emphasised that Zimbabwe currently operates with a local currency alongside a multi-currency system, which will end in 2025.

Therefore, businesses should not reject the local currency. He also informed the public that the government is actively addressing the issue and introduced ZiG (digital currency) as an alternative and store of value for those facing difficulties with bond notes. 

NewsDay cites him as saying:

On the issue of those rejecting our money, as lawmakers and representatives of the people, we should report to the Financial Intelligence Unit or the ministry so that we Investigate  and ask why they are not accepting our currency, and sanction them.

At the moment we use the local currency and the multi-currency regime and it will end in 2025 … business people should not reject local currency.

I want to assure the august House and Zimbabweans that we are looking at this matter. We now have ZiG (digital currency) which is a store of value and an alternative for those who are unable to use bond notes, they can buy ZiG.

Informal traders and commuter transport operators refuse to accept the ZWL$50 note amid the depreciation of the Zimbabwe dollar. When the Zimbabwe dollar was reintroduced in 2019 after a decade-long suspension, there were smaller denominations like ZWL$2, ZWL$5, ZWL$10, and ZWL$20 but they have all been phased out as the local currency continued to lose value against the United States dollar. 

Since the August 23 and 24, 2023 elections, the local currency has lost over 18% of its value, with the current exchange rate standing at US$1:$5 633,8332 on the interbank market. 

By- Self-proclaimed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Interim Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu has distanced himself from a statement circulating on social media platforms purportedly announcing the expulsion of the party’s president, Nelson Chamisa.

Tshabangu recently recalled 15 CCC MPs, claiming they had ceased to be party members.

On Tuesday, 10 October, a statement purportedly signed by Tshabangu surfaced on social media announcing Chamisa’s expulsion from the party he formed just over a year ago.

The statement stated that Chamisa had been dismissed from CCC “with immediate effect for “personalising the party as well as his continued gross disregard of the party constitution amongst other issues including embezzlement of party funds.”

However, when CITE reached out to him for comment, Tshabangu dismissed the expulsion statement as fake.

By- Self-proclaimed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Interim Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu has distanced himself from a statement circulating on social media platforms purportedly announcing the expulsion of the party’s president Nelson Chamisa.

Tshabangu recently recalled 15 CCC MPs claiming that they had ceased to be members of the party.

On Tuesday, 10 October, a statement purportedly signed by Tshabangu surfaced on social media announcing Chamisa’s expulsion from the party he formed just over a year ago.

The statement stated that Chamisa had been dismissed from CCC “with immediate effect for “personalising the party as well as his continued gross disregard of the party constitution amongst other issues including embezzlement of party funds.”

However, when CITE reached out to him for comment, Tshabangu dismissed the expulsion statement as fake.

By- Several CCC MPs were injured Tuesday after the Anti-riot police Tuesday pounced on them in Parliament while they were protesting the recall of their 15 colleagues. 

A CCC supporter from Bulawayo, Sengezo Tshabangu claimed to be the party’s interim secretary-general and initiated the recall of 15 CCC Members of Parliament (MPs) and 17 councillors, alleging that they were no longer members of the party.

When Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda officially announced the recall of the MPs, opposition MPs responded by singing and chanting slogans against Mudenda, bringing the proceedings to a halt. CCC interim organising secretary Amos Chibaya argued that Mudenda was wrong to accept Tshabangu’s letter, stating that all communication should come from their president, Nelson Chamisa , NewsDay quotes him as saying:

Mr Speaker, we wrote a letter to you dated September 11, notifying you that all communication comes from our president (Nelson) Chamisa.

I don’t think it is proper for you to rule in favour of Tshabangu.

Mudenda ordered the recalled MPs to leave the House, but they refused and continued singing party songs. As a result, anti-riot police were called in to remove them. Mudenda also imposed a ban on all CCC MPs from attending Parliament for six sessions and docked their salaries for boycotting President Mnangagwa.

By- Anti-riot police Tuesday pounced on CCC MPs in Parliament protesting the recall of their 15 colleagues. 

A CCC supporter from Bulawayo, Sengezo Tshabangu claimed to be the party’s interim secretary-general and initiated the recall of 15 CCC Members of Parliament (MPs) and 17 councillors, alleging that they were no longer members of the party.

When Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda officially announced the recall of the MPs opposition MPs responded by singing and chanting slogans against Mudenda, bringing the proceedings to a halt. CCC interim organising secretary Amos Chibaya argued that Mudenda was wrong to accept Tshabangu’s letter, stating that all communication should come from their president, Nelson Chamisa , NewsDay quotes him as saying:

Mr Speaker, we wrote a letter to you dated September 11, notifying you that all communication comes from our president (Nelson) Chamisa.

I don’t think it is proper for you to rule in favour of Tshabangu.

Mudenda ordered the recalled MPs to leave the House, but they refused and continued singing party songs. As a result, anti-riot police were called in to remove them. Mudenda also imposed a ban on all CCC MPs from attending Parliament for six sessions and docked their salaries for boycotting President Mnangagwa.

By A Correspondent- There is concern that a provision under the amended Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, also known as the Patriot Act, seeks to re-introduce the death penalty through the backdoor at a time when human rights defenders are pushing for its removal from the country’s statutes.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa signed into law the Patriot Act in July this year, despite widespread condemnation of the draconian law.

Legislative watchdog, Veritas and Amnesty International  (AI) voiced their concerns over the law during yesterday’s International Death Penalty Day commemorations in the capital.

The day is commemorated annually on October 10.

Zimbabwe is part of the 87 countries that have not abolished the death penalty.

Veritas director, Val Ingham-Thorpe said the death penalty must be removed from the country’s statutes.

“Death penalty and the Patriot Bill are completely unconstitutional. This is against the Constitution, it’s inhuman and we are going to challenge that in court,” Ingham-Thorpe said.

“In this country, we really have strange provisions.”-Newsday

Division has struck the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) structures in Matebeleland following the recall of the party’s Members of Parliament (MPs) and 17 councillors in the region.

Sengezo Tshabangu, who identifies as the interim CCC secretary-general, initiated the recall of the MPs and councillors, contending that they were no longer members of the opposition party.

Although the CCC has accused Tshabangu of being a Zanu-PF proxy and an impostor, reports indicate that regionalism is causing turmoil within the CCC. Those targeted for recall are being accused of not being “natives” of Matebeleland.

Tshabangu is said to have collaborated with senior party members, including recently elected councillors and MPs primarily from Bulawayo, who were dissatisfied with the alleged imposition of some candidates during the party’s candidate selection process leading up to the August 23 and 24 elections.

Sources suggest that the disgruntled group held five meetings prior to the recalls, with the most recent meeting taking place a day before CCC leader Nelson Chamisa addressed members in Bulawayo last Friday.

Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, has officially notified the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of the vacant seats. However, the recalled MPs have filed a High Court application to challenge their removal from the House.

On Monday, CCC Matebeleland North chairperson Prince Dubeko Sibanda, one of the affected legislators, revealed that he was aware of the plot by certain party members he claimed were collaborating with Zanu-PF to destabilize the opposition.

“Tshabangu is not acting alone in this,” said Dubeko-Sibanda. “We know that at some point, they went and met with Zanu-PF members to seek assistance in wresting the party from Chamisa.”

Tshabangu’s spokesperson, Khaliphani Phugeni, defended the recalls during an interview with American radio station Studio 7. Phugeni asserted that Tshabangu was nominated for the Lobengula-Magwegwe constituency and that he was unfairly treated. He added, “What will happen is that the court will ask for the (CCC) constitution. Tshabangu has it, and others do not.”

By A Correspondent- Villagers in various parts of the country have accused Zanu PF bigwigs of hijacking the presidential inputs programme through looting and nepotism.

Government says it has mobilised over 360 000 tonnes of agricultural inputs, which include seed and fertiliser, to support smallholder farmers under the Climate-Proofed Presidential Input Scheme (Pfumvudza/Intwasa).

However, distribution of the inputs to the targeted 3,5 million beneficiaries, which commenced on April 18 in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central, has been marred by accusations of looting and nepotism.

Villagers under Chief Mudzimu in Magunje constituency, Mashonaland West province, accused traditional leaders and Zanu PF councillors of denying known opposition members access to the inputs.

“The Chief (Mudzimu) has made it clear that no opposition member should get the inputs. The village heads in Mahwada, Kapfunde and Dzimaihwe have been ordered to provide their lists without opposition members,” one of the villagers said.

Chief Mudzimu was not picking calls to his mobile phone number despite repeated efforts to contact him for comment.

Elsewhere in Masvingo province’s Gutu district, Zanu PF district co-ordinating committee vice-chairperson Fabios Musara said the party had taken over the distribution of the inputs.

“It’s from our President (Emmerson Mnangagwa), so naturally as a local party leader, I am involved. I know our people who deserve the inputs,” he said.

Last week, acting Chief Nyamandi, born Siyano Machaya, touched off a storm after directing village heads to deny opposition supporters presidential agricultural inputs and food aid from government.

According to weather experts, this year’s cropping season will likely be affected by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which typically leads to delayed and below-normal rainfall.

Government is targeting cereal production of 3 512 658 tonnes — 2,8 million tonnes of maize and 712 658 tonnes of traditional grains and oil seeds — enough to meet the country’s human consumption needs.

Zimbabwe requires about 2,2 million tonnes of grains annually.-Newsday

By A Correspondent- Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has approached the High Court in Bulawayo in an attempt to reverse 15 controversial Parliamentary recalls by Sengezo Tshabangu.

Tshabangu recalled the CCC legislators alongside 17 councillors citing the members had ceased to be their members.

The Matebeleland North politician claims to be CCC’s Secretary General, a position contested by party President Nelson Chamisa.

Mudenda, after receiving Tshabangu’s communication proceeded to notify the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of vacancies in the 15 mainly Matebeleland constituencies.

Tshabangu has been labelled an impostor, funded by Zanu-PF to destabilise CCC and ensure a two-thirds Parliamentary majority for the ruling party.

A Declaratory and Consequential Relief filed on Monday by the opposition identifies Tshabangu as First Respondent, and Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda as the Second.

“Plaintiffs’ (CCC) claim against the Defendants is for a declaratory and consequential relief as follows; an order declaring that the Plaintiffs’ have a right to remain in, and be recognised as Members of Parliament by virtue of having been so elected in the general elections held on the 23rd and 24th of August 2023 and having been so sworn on the 7th of September 2023.

“An order declaring that 1 Defendant has no authority to communicate, engage, or correspond with the 2nd Defendant purporting to represent the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in respect of the Plaintiffs’ positions as Members of Parliament,” reads High Court papers filed by CCC.

“An order declaring that the 2nd Defendant has no obligation to act on the basis of any communication or correspondence addressed to him by the 1st Defendant purporting to communicate any information pertaining to Plaintiffs’ membership of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) or in respect of the Plaintiffs’ position or status as Members of Parliament

“Consequently, the letter written by the 1st Defendant dated 3rd October 2023 and any other communication or documents incidental thereto addressed to the 2nd Defendant communicating that the Plaintiffs have ceased to be members of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) be declared null and void and of no force and effect.”

If the recalls are upheld Zimbabweans will, barely two months after a general election, be expected to re-choose Parliamentarians in the 15 constituencies.

Having denied Zanu-PF a two-thirds majority, the elections could give President Emmerson Mnangagwa an opportunity to finally claim it and give him enough power to amend the constitution in his favour as feared by CCC and analysts.-newzimbabwe

By A Correspondent- Parents and guardians of Grade 7 pupils who finished writing their end of year Zimbabwe School Examinations Council tests Monday are disgruntled after government announced that the pupils will continue attending school.

Government has also banned school field trips for the junior school graduands, giving rise to angry reactions from parents and teacher unions who said they saw no sense in the decree.

Many parents who had travelled to boarding schools hoping to collect their children returned home empty-handed following the government order, triggering anger among the parents who had over the years been used to collecting their children soon after they completed writing their examinations.

In a circular dated October 5, 2023, the Primary and Secondary Education ministry ordered all schools to ensure that pupils attended schools until the end of the third term.

“The time after the last Grade 7 examination paper is not a school holiday because all Grade 7 pupils should attend classes until the end of the term. Heads of schools are duty-bound to make solid arrangements for all Grade 7 pupils to receive meaningful lessons and practical exercise in preparations for their transition to secondary school

“For the safety of pupils and curriculum alignment, no education tours should be undertaken by school after the Grade 7 examinations,” Nyanungo said.

Government also banned schools from holding fund-raising programmes.

This comes as several schools had planned field trips after the Grade 7 Zimsec examinations, with parents having already paid for the trips to mainly tourist resorts such as Victoria Falls, Kariba and Nyanga.

Yesterday, several schools were holding farewell parties for the Grade 7 pupils, while others were scheduled for this week as schools anticipated lessened pressure from the outgoing pupils.

Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe president Obert Masaraure said: “Government is consistently issuing this order year in, year out. No one will take heed of the order because it is not backed by a solid programme to occupy the learners.

“Government should create a post-Grade 7 learning programme if they want to detain learners in schools. In the absence of a programme teachers and learners will disregard the order.

“Such a post-Grade 7 programme should serve as orientation for entry to secondary school and impart important life skills. This can go a long way to protect learners from the social ills that can harm learners if they spend more time at home.”

Zimbabwe Teachers Association secretary-general Goodwill Taderera said it was difficult to stop the learners from going for the trips.

“During the third term, schools usually organise tours for upper grades, so it’s not unusual for Grade 7 pupils to have trips during this time while it is a noble idea to keep the pupils busy to protect them from social ills. It is difficult to manage a child who has already registered in their minds that they are done with primary school,” he said.

“The challenge is that the Grade Seven learners are sitting for their exams too early. There is a need for a general consensus by all stakeholders on how to enforce the measure,” he said.

By A Correspondent- MedOrange Pharmacies, a leading healthcare provider in Zimbabwe, recently launched its innovative online prescription service, designed to address the pressing needs of individuals living with chronic medical conditions in the country.

This groundbreaking service, accessible through the MedOrange mobile app, marks a significant milestone in improving healthcare accessibility and affordability.

Addressing Zimbabwe’s Chronic Health Challenges.

With nearly one individual in every Zimbabwean household living with a chronic condition, MedOrange recognizes the urgency of providing reliable access to essential medications. Common chronic diseases in Zimbabwe, such as HIV/AIDS, hypertension, cancer, and diabetes, have prompted the need for convenient and cost-effective
healthcare solutions.

Eliminating Remittance Hurdles for the Diaspora
For Zimbabwean families residing abroad who support their loved ones’ monthly medication needs, MedOrange offers a transformative solution. The online prescription service enables users to order medications directly for their relatives in Zimbabwe, eliminating remittance fees and potentially saving up to 20% on app purchases.

Effortless Ordering Process.

MedOrange’s user-friendly mobile app streamlines the ordering process. Patients can easily upload their prescriptions and receive quotations promptly. The app offers diverse payment options, and users can choose between collecting medications at a MedOrange branch or benefiting from free home delivery.

Enhanced Medication Adherence
To further support patients, the MedOrange app includes a medication reminder feature, particularly beneficial for elderly individuals who require regular prompts to adhere to their treatment plans, such as those managing hypertension.

Integrated Health Examination Kiosks
MedOrange Pharmacies goes beyond medication provision by offering integrated health examination kiosks.

These cutting-edge kiosks measure vital health parameters, including blood pressure, height, weight, blood oxygen levels, body fat percentage, body composition, body temperature, and body mass index (BMI). This data allows for expert health advice, enabling individuals to monitor and improve their well-being while mitigating risks associated with various non-communicable diseases.

First Aid Kits and Collaborative Partnerships
Recognizing the importance of preparedness for emergencies, MedOrange offers customizable first aid kits tailored to diverse needs.

Additionally, the company is open to partnerships with organizations interested in hosting awareness events like marathons and walkathons, offering support in advertising and related services.

MedOrange Pharmacies, established in 2020, is not just a pharmacy but a
comprehensive orchestrated platform committed to providing convenience in health, beauty, and wellness solutions. Through its robust online and physical presence, last-mile delivery, and services designed to cater to the diaspora, MedOrange is dedicated to enhancing healthcare access and overall well-being for all Zimbabweans.

By- Zanu PF speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, Monday wrote to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announcing the vacancies of 1onThe Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MPs and Senators from parliament the basis of a letter by Sengezo Tshabangu, who has styled himself as the CCC’s interim secretary general.
Tshabangu told Mudenda that the 15 – of whom 14 are from Bulawayo and the two Matabeleland provinces – had ceased to be members of the CCC and were therefore being recalled.
One of the recalled MPs Prince Dubeko Sibanda said: “On October 1, 2020, they recalled me for ceasing to be a member of the MDC-A, which I won under in 2018. We left it and formed CCC. I won by-elections on March 26, 2022, under CCC. I did so again on in the general elections on August 23, 2023. Today, they recalled us again. It’s time for a revolution.”
All the 15 representatives have gone to court seeking an order declaring that Tshabangu has no legal standing to recall them, and that they should remain in parliament. The party has described him as an “impostor.”
The affected MPs are Pashor Raphael Sibanda (Cowdray Park); Ereck Gono (Lobengula-Magwegwe); Nicola June Watson (Bulawayo South); Desmond Makaza (Mpopoma-Mzilikazi); Obert Manduna (Nketa); Sitabile Mlilo (Proportional Representation); Jasmine Toffa (Proportional Representation); Janet Dube (Proportional Representation); Evidence Zana (Youth Quota); Morgan Ncube (Beitbridge West); Nomathemba Sibanda (Proportional Representation); Velisiwe Nkomo (Proportional Representation); Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Binga North); Bright Moyo Vanya (Lupane East) and Febion Munyaradzi (Mabvuku-Tafara).
Separately, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa is ready to withdraw all his party’s elected representatives in protest at the latest developments, a CCC insider told ZimLive.
Calls for street protests will grow but Chamisa has shown some reluctance to lead marches, publicly stating that he does not want to “step on the skeletons of Zimbabweans to reach State House” – a show of concern over the violent response expected from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.
Chamisa had earlier written to Mudenda, who received Tshabangu’s letter on October 3, urging him to ignore the former MDC-T Matabeleland North chairman.
“As at present, none of the Members of Parliament who were elected under the CCC have been expelled from the party I lead or recalled from the National Assembly, or for that matter, from any elected position in the Senate or any local council,” Chamisa wrote.
Tshabangu has also written to local government minister Winston Chitando naming 17 councillors, 12 of them from Bulawayo, that he says have ceased to be members of the CCC. Two of the councillors are from Matabeleland South, one from Matabeleland North, one from Epworth in Harare and Masvingo’s first female mayor Shantel Chiwara.
The CCC has no formal membership and no leadership structure in place except for its leader and appointed spokespersons, a loophole which Tshabangu appears to have used to claim a powerful position for himself after submitting a purported CCC constitution to Mudenda. He previously used the same tactic with ZEC to cause the double nomination of CCC candidates in August’s polls.
If the courts rule in favour of Tshabangu in the fight, it opens the possibility that he can expel Chamisa from the party he founded in March 2022 and grab all funding due to the party under the Political Parties (Finances) Act. Zanu PF, meanwhile, will be eyeing by-elections that could follow with a target of winning 10 seats which would give if a two thirds majority in parliament, allowing it to amend the constitution.
The recalls are “a festival of illegalities and a carnival of absurdities,” said political analyst Brian Kagoro.
Exiled former foreign affairs minister Walter Mzembi said “it will take more than elections” to bring change in Zimbabwe, adding that the CCC’s decision to go to court was a “kindergarten response” and a sign that the party was “failing to read the mood.”
“We will defend our right to vote, our freedom to choose, our constitution and our democracy with everything that we have got. It cannot and will not be business as usual,” CCC spokesman Promise Mkwananzi said in a statement.
“There comes a time where one has to draw a line in the sand, stand up and defend their dignity. Such a time has come. The people of Zimbabwe must and will take a stand. Otherwise there would be no point in voting only for the regime to remove elected officials.”
The recalls come after disputed general elections on August 23 when Mnangagwa claimed a slim majority. Regional and international election observers condemned the poll as a sham and Chamisa has been demanding fresh elections supervised by the United Nations.
-ZimLive

By- The 2022 South Africa Census has revealed that 1 million Zimbabweans live there, constituting 45% of foreign nationals in Mzansi.

Stats SA said everyone in South Africa, including foreign nationals, was accounted for in the February 2022 Census.

The recent report indicates a modest rise in the population of individuals born outside of South Africa.

The data reveals that the majority of these foreign nationals are male young adults, aged between 20-44.

A significant portion of them come from five countries: Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi, and the United Kingdom (UK). Notably, these countries have retained their rankings since the 2011 Census.

Breakdown of foreign nationals in the 2022 Census:

– Zimbabwe: 1.012 million (45%)

– Mozambique: 416,564 (18.7%)

– Lesotho: 227,770 (10.2%)

– Malawi: 198,807 (8.9%)

– UK: 61,282 (2.8%)

Addressing the complexities of documented versus undocumented immigrants, Calvin Molongoana, the Census project director at Stats SA, emphasised that every individual present in South Africa in February of the previous year was included in the count.

This encompasses tourists and those in transit. “Anyone within the country’s borders, regardless of their legal status, documented or undocumented, was counted,” Molongoana stated. 

However, he clarified that members of the diplomatic corps and other diplomatic officials were excluded, as they are recorded by their respective nations.

On the topic of migration patterns, Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke highlighted that the Western Cape, Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga provinces experienced “positive net-migration.”

This indicates that these provinces saw more incoming migration than outgoing. Conversely, Limpopo recorded the highest negative net-migration, closely followed by the Eastern Cape.

In terms of “lifetime in-migration” – where individuals have remained in a province since birth – Gauteng emerged at the forefront with 5.18 million people. The Western Cape followed with 2.04 million residents.

IOL NEWS

By- The Stats SA has confirmed that Zimbabweans make 45% of foreign nationals in South Africa.

This came out during the February 2022 Census, which revealed that everyone in South Africa, including foreign nationals, was accounted for.

The recent report indicates a modest rise in the population of individuals born outside of South Africa.

The data reveals that the majority of these foreign nationals are male young adults, aged between 20-44.

A significant portion of them come from five countries: Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho, Malawi, and the United Kingdom (UK). Notably, these countries have retained their rankings since the 2011 Census.

Breakdown of foreign nationals in the 2022 Census:

– Zimbabwe: 1.012 million (45%)

– Mozambique: 416,564 (18.7%)

– Lesotho: 227,770 (10.2%)

– Malawi: 198,807 (8.9%)

– UK: 61,282 (2.8%)

Addressing the complexities of documented versus undocumented immigrants, Calvin Molongoana, the Census project director at Stats SA, emphasised that every individual present in South Africa in February of the previous year was included in the count.

This encompasses tourists and those in transit. “Anyone within the country’s borders, regardless of their legal status, documented or undocumented, was counted,” Molongoana stated. 

However, he clarified that members of the diplomatic corps and other diplomatic officials were excluded, as they are recorded by their respective nations.

On the topic of migration patterns, Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke highlighted that the Western Cape, Northern Cape, North West, Gauteng, and Mpumalanga provinces experienced “positive net-migration.”

This indicates that these provinces saw more incoming migration than outgoing. Conversely, Limpopo recorded the highest negative net-migration, closely followed by the Eastern Cape.

In terms of “lifetime in-migration” – where individuals have remained in a province since birth – Gauteng emerged at the forefront with 5.18 million people. The Western Cape followed with 2.04 million residents.

IOL NEWS

By James Gwati- The Zanu PF government Monday allowed a private doctor to visit the jailed opposition CCC politician Job Sikhala, who is in critical condition at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, and medically examine him.

 Sikhala’s attorney, Freddy Masariarevu, confirmed to the media that his client was attended to by his medical doctor, who made the following diagnosis:

Job Sikhala’s blood pressure is too high, possibly because of the prison conditions. His right foot is painful, and he is experiencing a sharp burning sensation. The doctor has recommended a colonoscopy. The doctor has prescribed Blood Pressure medication, pain killers and antibiotics”.

A colonoscopy is a procedure that lets your healthcare provider check the inside of your entire colon (large intestine).

The procedure is done using a long, flexible tube called a colonoscope. The tube has a light and a tiny camera on one end.

 The former Zengeza West Member of Parliament has been in prison since June 2022.

CCC party leader Nelson Chamisa Monday demanded that Sikhala be released from jail.

   In a post, Chamisa said Sikhala’s condition requires urgent and expert medical attention, which is denied to him at present. He said:

FREE JOB SIKHALA IMMEDIATELY! 

I am deeply concerned about the fact that Hon Job Sikhala is seriously ill in Chikurubi. In particular the fact that he has blood in his stools is a very serious condition which requires urgent and expert medical attention which is denied to him at present. This would be bad enough if he was a convicted criminal but he is an opposition politician and respected lawyer who has been denied bail and a fair trial since June last year. The oppressors have callously disregarded our pleas in the past and so I now call on the international community, particularly leaders within SADC, to express concern and to call for his immediate release to obtain specialized medical attention. When icons like Nelson Mandela were held unjustly the world spoke out against the brutal apartheid regime’s unjust treatment of him. This situation requires the same to be done urgently. For our part we will continue to do all in our power to secure his release from detention.

Chamisa’s recent post on X, formerly known as Twitter, received mixed reactions. While some people agreed with his message, others argued that merely posting on the platform was insufficient. They suggested that the CCC party should take proactive steps, such as approaching the Constitutional Court.

The CCC maintains that Sikhala did not commit any crime and is in prison on political grounds. Sikhala was arrested and jailed in June 2022 for alleged incitement of violence that erupted during the funeral wake of slain CCC activist Moreblessing Ali

By- The speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda, Monday wrote to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announcing the vacancies of 1onThe Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MPs and Senators from parliament on the basis of a letter by Sengezo Tshabangu, who has styled himself as the CCC’s interim secretary general.
Tshabangu told Mudenda that the 15 – of whom 14 are from Bulawayo and the two Matabeleland provinces – had ceased to be members of the CCC and were, therefore being recalled.
One of the recalled MPs Prince Dubeko Sibanda said: “On October 1, 2020, they recalled me for ceasing to be a member of the MDC-A, which I won under in 2018. We left it and formed CCC. I won by-elections on March 26, 2022, under CCC. I did so again on in the general elections on August 23, 2023. Today, they recalled us again. It’s time for a revolution.”
All the 15 representatives have gone to court seeking an order declaring that Tshabangu has no legal standing to recall them, and that they should remain in parliament. The party has described him as an “impostor.”
The affected MPs are Pashor Raphael Sibanda (Cowdray Park); Ereck Gono (Lobengula-Magwegwe); Nicola June Watson (Bulawayo South); Desmond Makaza (Mpopoma-Mzilikazi); Obert Manduna (Nketa); Sitabile Mlilo (Proportional Representation); Jasmine Toffa (Proportional Representation); Janet Dube (Proportional Representation); Evidence Zana (Youth Quota); Morgan Ncube (Beitbridge West); Nomathemba Sibanda (Proportional Representation); Velisiwe Nkomo (Proportional Representation); Prince Dubeko Sibanda (Binga North); Bright Moyo Vanya (Lupane East) and Febion Munyaradzi (Mabvuku-Tafara).
Separately, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa is ready to withdraw all his party’s elected representatives in protest at the latest developments, a CCC insider told ZimLive.
Calls for street protests will grow but Chamisa has shown some reluctance to lead marches, publicly stating that he does not want to “step on the skeletons of Zimbabweans to reach State House” – a show of concern over the violent response expected from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s regime.
Chamisa had earlier written to Mudenda, who received Tshabangu’s letter on October 3, urging him to ignore the former MDC-T Matabeleland North chairman.
“As at present, none of the Members of Parliament who were elected under the CCC have been expelled from the party I lead or recalled from the National Assembly, or for that matter, from any elected position in the Senate or any local council,” Chamisa wrote.
Tshabangu has also written to local government minister Winston Chitando naming 17 councillors, 12 of them from Bulawayo, that he says have ceased to be members of the CCC. Two of the councillors are from Matabeleland South, one from Matabeleland North, one from Epworth in Harare and Masvingo’s first female mayor Shantel Chiwara.
The CCC has no formal membership and no leadership structure in place except for its leader and appointed spokespersons, a loophole which Tshabangu appears to have used to claim a powerful position for himself after submitting a purported CCC constitution to Mudenda. He previously used the same tactic with ZEC to cause the double nomination of CCC candidates in August’s polls.
If the courts rule in favour of Tshabangu in the fight, it opens the possibility that he can expel Chamisa from the party he founded in March 2022 and grab all funding due to the party under the Political Parties (Finances) Act. Zanu PF, meanwhile, will be eyeing by-elections that could follow with a target of winning 10 seats which would give if a two thirds majority in parliament, allowing it to amend the constitution.
The recalls are “a festival of illegalities and a carnival of absurdities,” said political analyst Brian Kagoro.
Exiled former foreign affairs minister Walter Mzembi said “it will take more than elections” to bring change in Zimbabwe, adding that the CCC’s decision to go to court was a “kindergarten response” and a sign that the party was “failing to read the mood.”
“We will defend our right to vote, our freedom to choose, our constitution and our democracy with everything that we have got. It cannot and will not be business as usual,” CCC spokesman Promise Mkwananzi said in a statement.
“There comes a time where one has to draw a line in the sand, stand up and defend their dignity. Such a time has come. The people of Zimbabwe must and will take a stand. Otherwise there would be no point in voting only for the regime to remove elected officials.”
The recalls come after disputed general elections on August 23 when Mnangagwa claimed a slim majority. Regional and international election observers condemned the poll as a sham and Chamisa has been demanding fresh elections supervised by the United Nations.
-ZimLive

Nelson Chamisa must just quit Emmerson Mnangagwa’s parliament, the exiled former Foreign Affairs Minister Walter Mzembi has advised following the sudden recalling of 15 CCC parliamentary candidates by Mnangagwa’s abusive Speaker Of Parliement Jacob Mudenda.