Tshabangu to appoint new CCC leaders

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu is set to announce an interim party leadership and implement sweeping changes within Parliament as part of efforts to restore discipline, coherence and stability in the opposition party.

The move follows a High Court ruling that dismissed an application by a faction led by Welshman Ncube, which sought to overturn an earlier judgment nullifying the CCC's leadership structures.

Speaking to journalists, Tshabangu's spokesperson Nqobizitha Mlilo said the impending changes are aimed at stabilising the party's legislative arm and ensuring effective parliamentary conduct.

"As we have said before, Parliament, as a depository of national sentiment, is an important institution in representative democracy. When a country enters momentous periods of historical significance, Parliament ought to reasonably guide society towards national consensus," Mlilo said.

He added that the interim secretary-general, who he said is legally empowered to oversee the party's parliamentary affairs, would soon announce changes affecting CCC representatives in Parliament, including their deployment to parliamentary committees.

"As such, the party, through the interim secretary-general, being clothed with the legal power to control Parliament, will in due course announce certain changes to the composition of its members in Parliament, including committees of Parliament," Mlilo said.

"The changes are necessitated by the need to bring coherence, discipline and stability to the party Parliament Caucus."

Mlilo also confirmed that Tshabangu would soon unveil an interim leadership core to steer the party as it prepares for its congress.

"Further, the interim secretary-general will announce the interim leadership core of the party to enable the party to prepare for congress," he said.

He called on CCC members to prioritise unity and national cohesion, stressing that the party has a responsibility to contribute to peace and stability in Zimbabwe.

"It remains the duty of all members of the party to safeguard the unity of the party," Mlilo said.

"To each is the task of building national fault lines. Zimbabwe is our country, and we shall do all that is necessary to protect its present, future and permanent stability. Our people deserve to live in an environment of peace and economic stability, guaranteeing a prosperous future for everyone."

Mlilo further said the courts had now clarified the legal standing of the party's leadership structures.

"The correct and final legal position is that the terms of office of all office bearers, and organs of the party parliamentary caucus and the Local Government caucus, expired on 27 May 2024," he said.

"It follows that the office of the interim secretary-general, the party parliamentary caucus and the Local Government caucus are presently in both factual and legal control of Parliament. This position accords with the legal opinion sought and provided to the party preceding the institution of these two court matters."

The developments are expected to further reshape the internal dynamics of the CCC as it navigates ongoing legal and organisational challenges.