In charge … Sengezo Tshabangu
I have used my words to explore various themes, such as loss, hope, and self-discovery. I have also used my writing to advocate for social justice and democracy in Zimbabwe, a country that has been plagued by political and economic turmoil for decades.
But lately, I had found myself unable to write. I had lost the energy and the enthusiasm that used to fuel my creativity. I had been overwhelmed by the events that have unfolded in the past few months, events that have shaken the foundations of our nation and our opposition movement.
I am referring to the Tshabangu fiasco, the scandal that has rocked the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), the main opposition party in Zimbabwe, led by Nelson Chamisa. The CCC emerged as a formidable force in the 2023 harmonized (subjective) elections, challenging the ruling party Zanu PF and its leader, President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The CCC garnered 48% of the presidential vote, while Zanu PF claimed 50.8%, a narrow and disputed victory. The CCC also won just barely enough seats in the National Assembly to prevent a Zanu PF majority, making it the largest opposition bloc in the history of Zimbabwe- as far as I know anyway.
However, the CCC’s success was short-lived, as it soon faced a series of setbacks and challenges. The first blow came when the opposition refused to challenge the results legally citing judicial capture, and of cause their selective acceptance of election results. The CCC rejected the presidential results and maintained that the election was rigged and illegitimate, yet they accepted the National Assembly and the Local Government results, which were conducted in the same election they claimed was rigged. The CCC called for fresh elections supervised by SADC, the African Union, or the United Nations, as they believed that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission was biased and incompetent.
The most recent blow came when Sengezo Tshabangu, a former member of the MDCA and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), both defunct parties that merged with the CCC, emerged claiming to be the interim Secretary General of the CCC. Tshabangu sent letters to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Jacob Mudenda, and the Minister of Local Government, purporting to recall 15 CCC Members of Parliament and councillors, alleging that they were no longer members of the CCC. Tshabangu’s move was seen as a ploy to weaken the CCC and pave the way for Zanu PF to gain a two-thirds majority in Parliament, which would enable them to amend the constitution and entrench their power.
The CCC was outraged by Tshabangu’s actions and challenged his legitimacy and authority. The CCC leader, Chamisa, wrote to Mudenda, asking him to disregard Tshabangu’s communication, as he was not a member and did not hold any official position within the party. However, Mudenda acted on Tshabangu’s instructions and expelled the MPs from Parliament, creating a constitutional crisis and a political vacuum. The CCC disengaged from the National Assembly, the Senate, and the Local Government Authorities, and issued a 14-day ultimatum for the recalls to be reversed, threatening to withdraw its members from Parliament. The CCC also filed a court application to challenge Mudenda’s decision, they lost, thus now we are headed for another election.
The Tshabangu fiasco has raised many questions and speculations about the motives and the forces behind it. Some have accused Tshabangu of being a puppet of Zanu PF, a Trojan horse sent to infiltrate and destroy the CCC from within. Others have suggested that Tshabangu is an opportunist, a power-hungry and disgruntled individual who is seeking to advance his own interests and agenda. Some have even hinted that Tshabangu is working with a faction within the CCC that is opposed to Chamisa’s leadership and wants to oust him.
I have been following the developments of this saga with a mixture of disbelief, anger, and sadness. I have been trying to grasp what is really going on with this Tshabangu guy, and what his endgame is. Is he a puppet of Zanu PF, or just an opportunist? Is he a threat to the CCC, or a distraction? Is he a traitor, or a victim?
I have been searching for answers, but I have not found any. I have been reading articles, watching videos, listening to podcasts, and following social media posts, but I have not been satisfied. I have been talking to friends, colleagues, and fellow activists, but I have not been convinced. I have been looking for facts, but I have only found opinions.
And in the process, I lost the will to write. I lost the passion that used to drive me to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard. I lost the confidence that used to inspire me to share my thoughts and feelings with the world. I lost the joy that used to fill me when I created something new and original.
I had lost the will to write, because I had lost the sense of purpose and direction that used to guide me. The vision and the hope that used to motivate me, the faith and the trust that used to sustain me.
I had lost the will to write, because I had lost myself. But I’m back now, and I know it’s gonna be one heck of a ride.