Tshabangu Seals 2030 Agenda Deal
SELF-IMPOSED Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu yesterday told legislators aligned to him that he had secured a deal for them to stay in Parliament beyond 2028 during a government of national unity.
Tshabangu was addressing 20 MPs and senators who attended his caucus at Parliament.
Faction leader Jameson Timba addressed 45 CCC MPs and senators at another caucus meeting in Harare yesterday.
Tshabangu supports a Zanu PF plot to postpone elections that are due in 2028, a development that will see President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office extended by two years.
Tshabangu said he preferred dialogue to resolve the political crisis which emanated from the disputed August 2023 elections, in which former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa refused to concede defeat citing electoral fraud.
Tshabangu then snatched the opposition party from Chamisa and purged dozens of CCC legislators and councillors from Parliament and local authorities.
The move to suspend elections was topical at Tshabangu’s caucus, with the legislators unanimously agreeing to support the suspension of the polls when they are due, sources told NewsDay.
“The party leadership reiterated the importance of constructive engagement with the government and key stakeholders to contribute meaningfully to national economic recovery and long-term development, extending beyond 2028,” Tshabangu’s CCC said in a statement.
“The caucus reaffirmed the party’s commitment to a genuine national dialogue process that will pave way for an inclusive government of national unity to stabilise the country and reset the democratic agenda.”
During the meeting, Tshabangu pledged to fight for the legislators’ welfare.
“The caucus deliberated on issues affecting the welfare of Members of Parliament,” the statement added.
“Leadership is committed to engaging relevant institutions to improve working conditions and enhance MPs’ ability to execute their legislative mandate.”
Timba said half of the legislators were aligned to his party and added that Tshabangu was day-dreaming.
“The attempt by Sengezo Tshabangu, having learned from his handlers to rig himself into the bona fide leadership of the CCC through a caucus, collapsed like a deck of cards when only 21 legislators turned up,” Timba told NewsDay.
“The caucus that we called was well attended, with 45 attendees and eight apologies.”
The party has about 100 lawmakers in Parliament.
Mnangagwa has previously said he was not interested in having his term of office extended.
The 2030 agenda has left Zanu PF divided amid reports of fierce opposition to the idea from within the ruling party, including war veterans. NewsDay
