'There is only one CCC, led by Welshman Ncube'

The Welshman Ncube-led faction of the Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) has declared itself the sole legitimate authority within the party as internal power struggles continue to fragment Zimbabwe's main opposition movement. This assertion follows a High Court ruling by Justice Neville Wamambo, which barred Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-styled interim secretary-general, from making parliamentary appointments.

Justice Wamambo's ruling, issued earlier this week, found that Tshabangu had violated a previous court order secured by a faction loyal to Jameson Timba, which prevented him from making recalls pending the resolution of related legal disputes. The decision has intensified the rivalry between the three factions vying for control of the CCC: one led by Ncube, another by Timba aligned with founding leader Nelson Chamisa, and Tshabangu's splinter group.

In response to the ruling, Ncube's faction announced Tshabangu's suspension on Thursday. The suspension effectively removed Tshabangu from his claimed positions of interim secretary-general and leader of the opposition in Parliament, although he retains his role as Senator for Matabeleland North Province.

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Ncube faction spokesperson Willias Madzimure dismissed accusations from Timba that Ncube had exploited ongoing legal battles to strengthen his claim to leadership. Madzimure asserted that Ncube's authority as acting president of the CCC had been confirmed by the courts and rejected Timba's claim to interim leadership.

"The CCC has noted with concern a statement issued by Jameson Timba, in which he purported to be the interim party leader and chief administrator of the CCC party," Madzimure said. "We categorically dismiss and refute the claims made in that statement. There is no position of party leader and administrator under the CCC party constitution."

Madzimure further stated that Nelson Chamisa, the party's founding leader, had resigned over a year ago, paving the way for Ncube to assume the role of acting president. He added that the High Court ruling validated this succession. "For the record, Nelson Chamisa resigned as president of the CCC party over twelve months ago and was replaced by acting president Welshman Ncube, whose position has been confirmed by the latest High Court ruling," he said.

Timba, however, maintains that his faction represents the only legitimate leadership of the CCC. He accused Ncube of relying on legal cases initiated by his group to bolster claims against Tshabangu. Timba also vowed to continue pursuing court cases to resolve the leadership dispute definitively.

The CCC's internal conflicts have raised questions about the party's ability to function as a cohesive opposition force ahead of the 2028 general elections. Critics warn that prolonged infighting could weaken the CCC's credibility and distract from its mandate to challenge the ruling ZANU-PF government effectively.

With the leadership crisis showing no signs of abating, the CCC faces mounting pressure to resolve its divisions and present a unified front to its supporters and the broader electorate. However, the escalating tensions suggest that the path to reconciliation may remain elusive in the near term.