Tshabangu reports Welshman Ncube

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) self-imposed secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu has filed a formal complaint against party leader Welshman Ncube with the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ), accusing Ncube of exerting undue pressure on his lawyers, which led to the termination of their services. The latest development is part of an ongoing feud between Tshabangu and Welshman, who has acted as CCC's acting president.

Tshabangu claims that despite three meetings between the two aimed at resolving their differences, Welshman failed to reach any common ground, further complicating their relationship. Tshabangu is currently appealing to the Supreme Court following a High Court ruling that blocked him from making changes in Parliament. This ruling came after Welshman challenged Tshabangu's decision to recall several elected leaders and parliamentary portfolio committee members.

The conflict deepened when Tshabangu's legal representation, a team from Ncube and Attorneys, abruptly withdrew from his case on the eve of his Supreme Court appeal. Tshabangu alleges that the withdrawal was due to external pressure from Welshman, leading him to seek intervention from the LSZ.

"I have just received the legal advice which concludes that what happened deserves the attention of the Law Society of Zimbabwe as the regulatory body. I am still looking at it," Tshabangu said. "The background facts set out in the legal opinion are jaw-dropping. For now, the contents of the opinion are protected by attorney-client privilege."

It is believed that Welshman was displeased with the fact that Nqobani Sithole, a lawyer from Ncube and Attorneys, represented Tshabangu in the appeal. Sithole had been part of the legal team handling Tshabangu's cases involving the Ncube-led CCC since 2023. Tshabangu's camp claims that Sithole's refusal to comply with Welshman's alleged pressure led to Sithole quitting the law firm.

Sources close to Tshabangu's camp revealed that the aim was to create a situation where, on the day of the hearing, Sithole would be publicly disowned by Ncube and Attorneys, embarrassing Advocate Lewis Uriri, who was to represent Tshabangu. For Sithole to continue representing Tshabangu, he would have been required to set up his own law firm, but Tshabangu's camp asserts that Welshman attempted to frustrate these efforts.

Sithole, when approached for comment, declined to elaborate, saying, "I will comment on that in due time."

In response to Tshabangu's claims, CCC spokesperson Willias Madzimure dismissed the allegations, stating that the party was solely focused on the ongoing Supreme Court appeal. He defended Ncube, saying, "If you look at Professor Ncube, do you think he would be intimidated by Tshabangu so that he could engage in underhand tactics? He can't do that."

Madzimure further suggested that Tshabangu's actions stemmed from a lack of purpose within the party, labeling his conflict as an effort to "while up his idleness" after failing to find a leadership role.

However, Tshabangu's spokesperson, Nqobizitha Mlilo, countered that Tshabangu had attempted to de-escalate the conflict multiple times and had made several efforts to find common ground. "So many times he has tried to de-escalate the conflict and all the points of difference... At least three meetings have been held between the parties to find a compromise solution. In all meetings, Senator Tshabangu was prepared to compromise," Mlilo said.

Mlilo also stressed that Tshabangu's actions in Parliament were not part of any personal agenda but were a response to unspecified actions taken elsewhere. He also defended Tshabangu's relationship with some party figures, saying, "He has no inherent problems with mother (Mai Karenyi-Kore). She is a warm and motherly woman. She is caught up in toxicity."

As Tshabangu continues his appeal and the legal challenges persist, tensions within the CCC remain high, with ongoing allegations of internal power struggles and growing divisions.