3rd February 2024
Wezhira Munya
On the 2nd of February 2024, honourable Allan Rusty Markham, a member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party representing Harare East officially resigned from his position in the Zimbabwean parliament.
Hon Markham wrote to Speaker of Parliament hon. Jacob Mudenda stating, “….I write to tender my resignation from parliament with immediate effect, as required under by the section 129[1]b of the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”
[See the attached letter of resigning from Hon. Markham from honourable Markham to Speaker of Parliament]
He resigned from the Zimbabwean parliament in a show of support and solidarity for President Chamisa. This move has sparked speculation that advocate Tendai Biti will contest the Harare East seat following Markham’s resignation.
Hon. Markham, who defeated CCC Tshabangu vice president Tendai Biti during the party’s “primary elections”, decided to step down after witnessing Biti’s collaboration with Sengezo Tshabangu to oppose President Chamisa, Markham himself, and other pro-Chamisa councillors and parliament members.
Markham’s resignation follows a similar move by advocate Fadzayi Mahere, the former CCC spokesperson and member of parliament for Mount Pleasant, who resigned from her parliamentary position the previous week.
Advocate Mahere is the first CCC member of parliament to resign from parliament and hon. Markham is the second member of parliament to resign.
Who is the next CCC member of parliament to resign from parliament?
According to Tshabangu, in a recent interview, he collaborated with advocate Biti and others in an effort to recall President Chamisa’s councillors and parliament members.
Below is the Hon. Markham’s letter to Harare East residents explaining why he resigned from parliament:
“Dear Residents and Stakeholders of Harare East.
For a long time now, I have been grappling with the issues pertaining to the shutdown of the democratic space in Zimbabwe. This has led to a lot of soul searching pertaining to the future.
Recent events within the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party have pushed me to make the firm decision that I no longer represent the CCC in any form whatsoever. I believe that the party has been infiltrated to an extent that it does not represent what I stand for.
The choreographed support by the Judiciary and the Zimbanwe Electoral commission to the self appointed and unknown Interim Secretary General is a testament to how desperate the regime wants to shut down the democratic space.
I therefore reiterate that I cannot be and will not be associating with anything to do with the CCC from here on .
Further to the above, the democratic space in parliament has been shut down completely. Parliament has been rendered into a “tick the box” institution and has no oversight at all over the Executive (Ministries). stakeholders engagement on the budget was also a rubber stamp exercise.
After consultation with residents and hearing both sides of the argument (to remain or to leave parliament ), I have opted to leave Parliament as my conscience will not allow me to remain as a Member of Parliament. As a result, my resignation letter was handed in before noon on Friday the 2nd of February.
I would like to thank everyone who has supported me, and who has believed in me. I assure you that I will continue working with the residents and stakeholders as I have in the past for the betterment of our communities and the country.
For the sake of clarity and the avoidance of doubt I stand firmly with Advocate Nelson Chamisa.”
Rusty Markham
