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Mnangagwa hosts lavish dinner for CCC at State House
06 Jun 2024 at 07:56hrs | Views
First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa hosted a lavish dinner on Friday for Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu and his legislators, aiming to solidify President Emmerson Mnangagwa's plan to stay in power beyond 2028. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was the guest of honor at the event, where Zanu-PF and CCC legislators pledged their support for the Mnangagwas.
During the dinner, the legislators agreed to make Auxillia their ambassador, with plans to give her an official parliamentary position. Mnangagwa's second and final term is set to end in 2028, but allies like Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube are pushing to extend it to 2030. Despite publicly stating he would not seek a third term, Mnangagwa did not stop officials from chanting slogans supporting his continued rule at a recent event.
To extend the presidential term, a referendum for a constitutional amendment is required, and the incumbent is not supposed to benefit from the new provision. However, sources indicate that Mnangagwa is working with MPs from both parties to find ways around this, culminating in the opulent dinner where lawmakers were treated to a sumptuous meal and expensive whiskies.
Plans include extending the terms of both the current Parliament and the president to 2030 or de-harmonizing the elections to schedule the next presidential election for 2030. The MPs also supported making Auxillia the leader of the women's caucus in Parliament.
Tshabangu, who recently declared himself the leader of the opposition in Parliament, attended the dinner. He also appointed himself the leader of CCC in the Senate and a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union delegation, securing a position on Parliament's standing rules and orders committee.
These leadership changes were announced in both the National Assembly and Senate by speakers Jacob Mudenda and Michael Nyambuya. Tshabangu took control of the CCC from its former leader Nelson Chamisa, who accused him of being a Zanu-PF proxy. Tshabangu denied these claims but faced criticism for recalling several CCC legislators, which critics say handed Zanu-PF a two-thirds majority.
Tshabangu confirmed the dinner, emphasizing it was for female legislators from both parties, and noted that female MPs agreed to make the first lady their ambassador to champion women's causes. Zanu-PF chief whip Pupurai Togarepi confirmed these outcomes, highlighting Auxillia's role in advancing women's interests in healthcare, culture, and empowerment.
During the dinner, the legislators agreed to make Auxillia their ambassador, with plans to give her an official parliamentary position. Mnangagwa's second and final term is set to end in 2028, but allies like Midlands Provincial Affairs Minister Owen Ncube are pushing to extend it to 2030. Despite publicly stating he would not seek a third term, Mnangagwa did not stop officials from chanting slogans supporting his continued rule at a recent event.
To extend the presidential term, a referendum for a constitutional amendment is required, and the incumbent is not supposed to benefit from the new provision. However, sources indicate that Mnangagwa is working with MPs from both parties to find ways around this, culminating in the opulent dinner where lawmakers were treated to a sumptuous meal and expensive whiskies.
Plans include extending the terms of both the current Parliament and the president to 2030 or de-harmonizing the elections to schedule the next presidential election for 2030. The MPs also supported making Auxillia the leader of the women's caucus in Parliament.
These leadership changes were announced in both the National Assembly and Senate by speakers Jacob Mudenda and Michael Nyambuya. Tshabangu took control of the CCC from its former leader Nelson Chamisa, who accused him of being a Zanu-PF proxy. Tshabangu denied these claims but faced criticism for recalling several CCC legislators, which critics say handed Zanu-PF a two-thirds majority.
Tshabangu confirmed the dinner, emphasizing it was for female legislators from both parties, and noted that female MPs agreed to make the first lady their ambassador to champion women's causes. Zanu-PF chief whip Pupurai Togarepi confirmed these outcomes, highlighting Auxillia's role in advancing women's interests in healthcare, culture, and empowerment.
Source - the standard
