Zimbabwe's main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) says it's unfazed by an urgent High Court application filed by Sengezo Tshabangu seeking to bar its candidates from contesting on the party ticket.

Wilson Waison

The self-styled interim Secretary General is motivated to bar 23 CCC candidates from the forthcoming February 3 by-election.

CCC spokesperson, Promise Mkwananzi their candidates for the February 2024 by-elections will continue campaigning despite Tshabangu’s threats to recall.

“Our candidates and our supporters are urged to remain focused on the campaign and preparing to vote in the upcoming by-elections to retain our elected representatives while our lawyers address this issue,” he said.

Mkwananzi said the party’s legal teams have advised that the matter is already before the Supreme Court on an appeal basis following the initial barring of our candidates on the 9th of December 2023.

The 23 CCC (Chamisa faction) candidates successfully filed their nomination papers at the Nomination Court on 18 December 2023.

Mkwananzi said Zimbabwe must put itself in a positive light by being seen to be promoting rather than stifling democratic competition.

“The barring of CCC (Chamisa Faction) is a further dent on the regime's image which already suffered immensely from the disputed outcome of the general elections roundly condemned by all observers,” he said.

Mkwananzi said the attempt to bar their candidates is further vindication that Zimbabwean authorities and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ( ZEC) are not interested or capable of allowing a free and fair election to take place.

“Our lawyers are seized with this matter and are confident that it will be thrown away as it should because it's already before a superior court,” he said.

Mkwananzi said CCC engaged on the matter politically to ensure that they continue to defend the rights of Zimbabweans to contest elections and choose leaders of their choice.

“The right to vote and to be voted for was one of the primary reasons of the liberation struggle. We will continue to fight for and to defend this inalienable right.”

Mkwananzi blamed Zanu Pf for manning Tshabangu to disrupt the flow of progress in the main opposition.

However, Zanu PF Secretary for Information and publicity, Christopher Mutsvangwa denied allegations against the ruling party saying the party is disinterested in the catfight between Tshabangu and Chamisa factions.

Mutsvangwa condemned the split and power fights in the Citizens Coalition for Change saying it has buoyed the February by-election.

He blamed Chamisa for failing to consolidate interim power and maintain chaos sprouting from conflict between him and self-styled Sengezo Tshabangu.

“Chamisa is not gracious to his MPs so that they can discharge the responsibilities to the electorate simply because he himself has not attained the apex of power,” he said.

Despite the claim made by Mutsvangwa of showing disinterest in the majority rule, Political analyst Liam Kanhenga said Tshabangu’s urgent application is a revised manoeuvre by the regime to secure a win for its unelectable candidates.

“The regime is hunting for a two-thirds majority rule to arm twist and amend the constitution at will.”