Drama And Circus Continue In The 10th Parliament

By Shingirai Vambe

Parliament- Zimbabwe’s Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has witnessed a significant shake-up in its parliamentary leadership. Sengezo Tshabangu, the party’s interim secretary-general, has made sweeping changes, dismissing several key leaders and appointing new ones.

The most notable change is the removal of Lynette Karenyi-Kore as the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly. She has been replaced by Sunningdale legislator Maureen Kademaunga. This move is particularly significant, as Karenyi-Kore was endorsed as the president of the CCC earlier this year but never assumed the position.

Tshabangu’s latest move follows a series of recalls targeting CCC legislators and councillors perceived to be loyal to former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa. Chamisa left the CCC in January this year, citing alleged infiltration by the ruling Zanu PF party.

The recent reshuffles are targeting CCC legislators aligned to Welshman Ncube, following the two party leaders’ fallout early this year. This has escalated intra-party tensions, with sources indicating that the CCC is experiencing internal power struggles.

Other notable changes include the replacement of Edwin Mushoriwa as chief whip with C. Moyo, and the appointment of Thokozani Khupe as the chairperson of the Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science, and Technology Committee.

The full list of changes is as follows:

– Maureen Kademaunga replaces Lynette Karenyi-Kore as the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly.
– N. Mlotshwa is confirmed as the overall Chief Whip.
– C. Moyo replaces E. Mushoriwa as the Chief Whip in the National Assembly.
– S. Chapfudza is appointed as the Deputy Chief Whip in the Senate.

Multiple committee chairpersons have also been replaced, including:

– T. Khupe replacing M. N. Gumede as Chairperson of the Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science, and Technology Committee.
– Z.T. Mhetu replacing Mateu as Chairperson of the Media Information and Broadcasting Services Committee.

These changes reflect the ongoing power struggles within the CCC, as the party navigates internal conflicts and external pressures.

The 10th Parliament of Zimbabwe has indeed been marred by controversy and drama, earning it the label of a “circus” from some critics. The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction has been at the center of the storm, with allegations of connivance between Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda and CCC interim Secretary-General Sengezo Tshabangu to undermine democratic processes.

The controversy began when Tshabangu recalled 15 CCC legislators, a move that was supported by Mudenda, who declared the seats vacant. This led to a heated debate in Parliament, with some MPs refusing to leave the House and eventually being ejected by police.

The situation has been further complicated by the fact that some CCC members have been expelled from the party, leading to a split within the opposition. The expulsions have sparked widespread outrage among CCC supporters and other opposition factions, who view this as a deliberate attempt to weaken the party ahead of upcoming elections.

Despite the drama and controversy, Parliament has continued to function, with debates and committee meetings taking place as scheduled. However, the ongoing infighting within the CCC has raised concerns about the stability of the opposition and its ability to challenge the ruling ZANU-PF party effectively.