Disputed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu has started drumming up support for his faction’s candidates ahead of the February 3 by-elections.
Tshabangu, who is notorious for recalling dozens of CCC Legislators, Senators and Councillors after last year’s disputed August 23 polls, claiming they were imposed against the will of the people was yesterday seen addressing his supporters near Holy Cross Catholic Parish and St Johns in Tshabalala, Bulawayo.
In a video seen by 263 Times, Tshabangu attended the launch of former CCC Proportional Representation MP Moreblessing Tembo, who is gunning for the Pelandaba-Tshabalala Constituency. The seat fell vacant after Tshabangu recalled former Mp and CCC Deputy Spokesperson Gift “Ostallos” Siziba.
The recalled Siziba will run again for the seat as an independent after Tshabangu through the courts successfully blocked recalled MPs from representing the party.
The campaign was also attended by Tshabangu’s close allies, former CCC MP Kucaca Phulu and Mbuso Siso.
President Emerson Mnangagwa last year declared February 3 as the date for by-elections for the vacancies created in the national assembly following the recall of 18 CCC legislators by Tshabangu.
The recalls have thrown the Nelson Chamisa led CCC into sixes and sevens, resulting in ugly internal fights that have seen Chamisa fall out with his erstwhile Vice Presidents Professor Welshman Ncube and Tendai Biti, who are accused of being secretly behind Tshabangu’s activities.
The Bulawayo bred Tshabangu, who ironically chanted slogans affirming Nelson Chamisa’s leadership of the party, said he wouldn’t stop the recalls until the party has structures and goes to the congress to elect a leadership.
