In a decisive move to stabilize its leadership within Zimbabwe’s National Assembly, the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has appointed new lawmakers to key parliamentary positions. This action comes in the wake of a significant internal crisis triggered by the expulsion of its chief whip, Amos Chibaya, and several others by a faction within the party.
The Hansard, Zimbabwe’s parliamentary publication, revealed that Speaker Jacob Mudenda acknowledged Clifford Hlatywayo as the new leader of the opposition in the House of Assembly, with Chinjai Kambuzuma serving as his deputy. Additionally, Sessel Zvidzai has been named the party’s chief whip in the Senate, supported by deputy N. Ndlovu. These appointments fill the gaps left by CCC lawmakers who were recently recalled and subsequently barred from participating in two by-elections by a High Court order, following an application by Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-styled interim secretary general of the CCC.
Tshabangu’s faction claimed the ousted parliamentarians were no longer members of the CCC, sparking a legal and political battle within the party. The crisis deepened after Nelson Chamisa, the founding leader of the CCC, was reported to have distanced himself from the party last month, leading to further questions about the party’s direction and leadership.
In defiance of the turmoil, the newly appointed parliamentary leaders have affirmed their legitimacy and commitment to the CCC’s cause. Clifford Hlatywayo, in conversation with VOA Studio 7, emphasized that the appointments were official and represented the CCC lawmakers’ collective decision, distancing the parliamentary faction from Tshabangu’s group.
The party is now under the interim leadership of Jameson Timba, who has been co-opted as the caretaker chairman of the CCC in parliament. This leadership restructuring is a critical step for the CCC as it seeks to navigate its internal divisions and maintain its oppositional stance against the ruling government.
As the CCC endeavors to resolve its internal conflicts and reinforce its parliamentary presence, the implications of these leadership changes on the party’s cohesion and its future political strategies remain to be seen. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges faced by opposition parties in Zimbabwe, grappling with both internal dynamics and external pressures in their quest to effect change.
Attempts to reach Sengezo Tshabangu for comment were unsuccessful, leaving the party’s next moves and the potential for reconciliation within its ranks an open question.
