….. As Zanu PF Tshabangu Proxy fails to field council candidates in Chiredzi after recalls
14th January 2024
Wezhira Munya
Yesterday, on the 13th of January 2024, the Chiredzi Cluster Citizens Coalition for Change [CCC], led by the popular and charismatic President Nelson Chamisa, launched its by-election campaign in Chiredzi town.
The campaign launch took place in two different venues: Pamuuyu open space in Ward 6 and Melbourne open space in Ward 7. The by-election, scheduled for the 3rd of February 2024, was prompted by the illegal recalls orchestrated by the fake CCC interim Secretary General, Sengezo Tshabangu.
Tshabangu had recalled two Chiredzi town councillors, namely Mayor Rogers Chikonye of Ward 7 and Councillor Musingashari Musingashari of Ward 6. Mayor Chikonye expressed his view on the situation, stating, “I was illegally recalled as a councillor and as the Chiredzi town chairperson [mayor] by dubious Tshabangu. However, I will retain this council seat in the upcoming by-election on the 3rd of February 2024. Victory is certain.”
Former Councillor Musingashari added, “The evil and Zanu PF proxy Tshabangu recalled Mayor Chikonye and myself, accusing us of supporting President Nelson Chamisa. We, the recalled councillors, vow to stand with President Chamisa and win these by-elections on the 3rd of February 2024.”
Both of these councillors had defeated Zanu PF councillors in the harmonized elections held on the 23rd of August 2023. The CCC, under the leadership of President Chamisa, had also won the Chiredzi town mayoral post by defeating Zanu PF in those same elections.
However, Tshabangu, acting as a proxy for Zanu PF, recalled Mayor Chikonye to give the mayoral position to Zanu PF. As a result, Chiredzi town currently has a Zanu PF mayor and deputy mayor due to Tshabangu’s illegal recalls.
After the recalls, Tshabangu has failed to field two his two council candidates to contest in the forthcoming council by-elections. Furthermore, Tshabangu submitted an urgent High Court application yesterday, seeking to bar all recalled CCC candidates from using CCC’s logo and symbols.
If the High Court grants Tshabangu’s request, it would mean that Zanu PF will win two Chiredzi town council seats (Ward 6 and Ward 7) without going through an election. This failure to field candidates in the by-elections suggests that Tshabangu is working with Zanu PF to undermine the opposition in Zimbabwe.
During the CCC by-election campaign launch yesterday, Honourable Ropafadzo Makumire, the Member of Parliament for Chiredzi Central, urged Chiredzi town citizens to vote for President Chamisa’s candidates, Musingashari Musingashari of Ward 6 and Roger Chikonye of Ward 7.
Advocate Martin Mureri, the Member of Parliament for Masvingo Urban, also spoke at the campaign rally, declaring that Zanu PF would never defeat President Chamisa and the CCC party in the upcoming by-election. He encouraged CCC members in the two wards to go out and vote in large numbers on the 3rd of February 2024.
Chiredzi town citizens have promised to vote for CCC party candidates on the 3rd of February 2024, as proclaimed by former senator Godfrey Madzikanda during the rally. Madzikanda himself was illegally recalled by the fake CCC Secretary General Tshabangu.
The campaign rally launch was attended by CCC councillors who fearlessly declared their support for President Chamisa despite Tshabangu’s threats to recall them. Among the councillors present were Clr Chigidi of Ward 8, Muchaendepi Philimon of Ward 5, Chikanyau of Ward 2, Siyanda of Ward 3, Magaisa of Ward 1, Simbi of Ward 4, Muchono of Ward 19, Lenny Mukuma of Ward 28 in Chiredzi West, Mafuta of Ward 18 in Chiredzi West, and Elijah Mugidho of Ward 29 in Chiredzi North.
Hundreds of President Chamisa’s CCC members attended yesterday’s by-election campaign launch. Additionally, Hon. Mugidho, Proportional Representative Member of Parliament Honorable Matara, Senator Maggie Chakabuda, Honorable F. Chamisa of Chiredzi North, Honorable Machigere of Chiredzi West, Chiredzi Deputy Cluster Leader Mr. Kingsley Sibanda, and Masvingo PA Mr. Mandi Matutu were among the attendees of the by-election campaign in Chiredzi Central.
