Tshabangu brews fresh storm

THE Sengezo Tshabangu-led Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction has come under heavy criticism for backing controversial constitutional amendments that could extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa's rule beyond 2028.

Tshabangu's faction has expressed conditional support for Constitutional Amendment No. 3 Bill (CAB 3), a move political observers say further exposes the group's alleged alignment with the ruling Zanu PF party.

The faction has reportedly softened its opposition to the proposed amendments in favour of negotiations with Zanu PF, arguing that the legislation should prioritise "national consensus" over partisan interests.

The position was outlined in a statement issued by the faction's interim national spokesperson, Nqobizitha Mlilo.

According to the faction, support for CAB 3 would depend on the establishment of a "government of national consensus" once the proposed legislation is passed.

Among the major constitutional changes proposed under the Bill are the extension of terms of office for the President, parliamentarians and local authorities from five to seven years.

The Bill also seeks to replace the direct election of the President by citizens with an electoral college system in which lawmakers would vote for the Head of State.

Political analysts said the latest developments reinforced long-standing suspicions surrounding Tshabangu's political role following the recall of opposition MPs and councillors in late 2023.

Critics have argued that the recalls were strategically designed to help Zanu PF secure the two-thirds parliamentary majority required to amend the Constitution.

Political analyst Tendai Mbofana told NewsDay that Tshabangu's support for CAB 3 appeared to confirm claims that his actions were aligned with Zanu PF's broader political agenda.

"The announcement that Sengezo Tshabangu and his faction are open to supporting CAB 3 confirms what many of us have argued from the very beginning," said Mbofana.

"His actions since late 2023, specifically the systematic recall of elected Citizens Coalition for Change Members of Parliament and councillors, were never about correcting internal party anomalies.

"They were a calculated strategy to dismantle the legitimate opposition and deliver the two-thirds parliamentary supermajority that Zanu PF required to alter the supreme law of the country."

Legal and constitutional experts have also expressed concern over the proposed amendments, warning that the changes could weaken democratic governance and public accountability.

Mbofana argued that opposition groups resisting CAB 3 face a difficult battle due to what he described as a compromised Legislature.

"As for whether there is hope left for groups opposing CAB 3, the battle is severely compromised inside Parliament due to this manufactured majority.

"However, the ultimate battleground lies in the defence of constitutionalism itself," he said.

He further cited Section 328(7) of the Constitution, which bars an incumbent President from benefiting from amendments to presidential term limits made during their tenure.

Analysts also suggested that Tshabangu's political survival now depends on delaying the 2028 harmonised elections, arguing that supporting a term extension arrangement could allow his faction to remain in Parliament without returning to the electorate.

"While Tshabangu and his allies may command seats in Parliament through political engineering, they do not command the mandate of the people," Mbofana added.

Political analyst Rashweat Mukundu said the CCC faction's stance effectively demonstrated the collapse of a credible parliamentary opposition.

"There is no opposition. Tshabangu is just trying to create a story to justify his actions. Tshabangu is a part of Zanu PF, regardless of the fact that he is operating under an opposition tag," Mukundu said.

"So this opposition is for Emmerson Mnangagwa. There is nothing legitimate about what Tshabangu is saying here."

Mukundu further claimed that Tshabangu's rise within the CCC structures had been facilitated by political forces aligned to the ruling party.

"The legislative and judicial support received during the previous year aligns with these observations," he said.

"The current discourse appears to be an attempt to provide a procedural framework for these political shifts."