The High Court has postponed the judgement in which Citizens Coalition for Change self-proclaimed secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu is seeking to bar 23 CCC candidates from contesting in the forthcoming by-elections slated for February 3.

Wilson Waison 

Justice Pisirayi Kwenda proposed a simultaneous hearing of a matter filed by Tshabangu due to a similar case that was before another judge.

Tshabangu’s lawyer, Nqobani Sithole said the delay is largely attributed to the confusion brought about by a new applicant to join the matter before the courts.

“When we came in the morning there was another CCC that made an application for a joinder and we consented to that,” said Sithole.

He revealed that a joinder has been made and the matter will be heard at 2 pm.

Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s lawyer, Obey Shave said they made an application that it wants to be part of the court case where Sengezo Tshabangu is seeking to ban our candidates from participating in the 3 February byelection. 

“Unfortunately the matter could not proceed because there is another matter involving Amos Chibaya and others which was before a separate judge similarly dealing with the same issue,” said Shava 

He also revealed that his client is confident of the arguments presented before the courts and awaits the judgement yet to be passed tomorrow at 2 pm.

Tshabangu has been on a spree of recalling candidates since last year after the August 23rd General Election. 

The current wave of recalls has egged a second by-election slated for February 3, the first wave of recalls caused the December 9 by-election held in 2023.

On Friday, he cited the Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs to exclude 23 candidates from ballot papers, arguing that the candidates had ceased to be CCC members.

Tshabangu also argues that the candidates who were recalled last year, have not been re-admitted to the party, hence they should not contest under the CCC banner.

The 23 newly recalled candidates include Gift Siziba, Member of Parliament for Tshabalala Pelandaba who filed his papers under the same CCC banner which evoked his recall.

Unlike at the sitting of the nomination court for the 09 December by-elections, some recalled CCC members filed their papers as independent candidates for the 03 February by-elections to avoid being disqualified.