It is not my role to field candidates

It is not my role to field candidates - says Tshabangu

… likens himself to Morgan Tsvangirai

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Disputed opposition Citizens Coalition for Change secretary-general, Sengezo Tshabangu, has claimed that it is not his role to field candidates in areas affected by his recalls, adding that the responsibility lies with the people who reside in those constituencies or wards to choose their preferred leaders.

This comes after the ruling Zanu PF won five council seats in Harare, Chiredzi and Manyame RDC uncontested following the disqualification of CCC candidates by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission after a court order and failure by Tshabangu to field his own candidates in the given wards.

Critics have been castigating Tshabangu, saying his failure to field candidates was evidence that he was working with Zanu PF to weaken the main opposition.

But, the popular politician, in an interview, dismissed this view, arguing that it was not his mandate to allocate candidates to the affected areas.

Seemingly, implying that not fielding candidates was normal, Tshabangu claimed that late former opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai once recalled MDC members from Bulawayo and failed to replace them, much to the benefit of Zanu PF.

“They (critics) are misled, far-fetched sentiments and theories. They are not consistent with our democratisation efforts to make sure that at the end of the day, the people of Zimbabwe are given a second chance to fight,” he said.

“Morgan Tsvangirai recalled Members of Parliament in 2014, 2015 thereabout, and most of them were from Bulawayo. He didn’t field those candidates, and Zanu PF went unopposed. If nobody raised a complaint that Morgan was working with Zanu PF, maybe there is nothing sinister that I have done. The candidates that were recalled ceased to be members of CCC. The failure to field candidates solely lies to the people of Chitungwiza and Harare. I don’t carry the burden of people of Chitungwiza, I’m there as a leader, but they are the ones who identify their candidates.

“Morgan, as the president, did not field candidates in the marginalised region, and nobody questioned him. Fast-forward, if this is a question of tribe, then I don’t get it. It is not my responsibility to field candidates.”

Tshabangu said people who reside in the affected wards have the responsibility to field candidates of their choice.

“It is the responsibility of the people in that particular ward that has been affected. As the officer who is there to implement the policies of the party, I'm guided by the principle that, if a member ceases, then he cannot stand whatsoever in that particular banner to represent the people. This was not a Tshabangu thing. It was a collective thing.

“This is why you have seen this programme has been consistent. If it means we remove everyone, we will do so. It doesn’t matter because that is the principle,” he added.

Soon after 2023 harmonised general elections, Tshabangu emerged claiming to be the CCC interim secretary-general before he recalled dozens of party MPs, senators, and councillors claiming they had ceased to be members of CCC.

The recalled members were aligned to party leader Nelson Chamisa, who believes that Tshabangu is an imposter. Tshabangu’s authority is currently being challenged in the courts.

He has since been ordered to suspend recalls. But by-elections caused by the recall of the second batch of opposition members will be held on the February 3.