Zimbabwe’s opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has appointed new lawmakers to key parliamentary positions in response to a crisis within the party. The move comes after the recalling of chief whip Amos Chibaya and several others by Sengezo Tshabangu, who claimed they were no longer members of CCC.
Speaker Jacob Mudenda announced in the latest edition of the parliamentary publication, The Hansard, that Clifford Hlatywayo would lead the opposition in the House of Assembly, with Chinjai Kambuzuma as the deputy. Meanwhile, Sessel Zvidzai has been appointed as the party’s chief whip in the Senate, with N. Ndlovu as the deputy.
The parliamentary portfolio positions left vacant by recalled CCC lawmakers have also been filled, despite a High Court ruling barring them from contesting in two by-elections. Responding to questions about the continued use of the CCC name in the National Assembly, Hlatywayo stated that the parliamentary party operates under the leadership of Jameson Timba, who was appointed as the interim caretaker chairman of CCC.
It is important to note that these positions were filled by CCC lawmakers and are unrelated to the faction led by Tshabangu, according to Hlatywayo. No immediate comment was available from Tshabangu, who had dismissed the CCC lawmakers.
