Chamisa loses fight for Byo CCC office, court side...

Chamisa loses fight for Byo CCC office, court sides with Tshabangu faction

Zim Now Writer

A faction of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change led by its secretary-general, Sengezo Tshabangu has won a court case to remove former party leader Nelson Chamisa and his alleged supporters from the party’s Bulawayo office.

The Bulawayo High Court judge, Justice David Mangota, ruled that even though Chamisa wasn’t physically present at the office, he was clearly connected to the people who took over the property.

The CCC, represented Tshabangu, had accused Chamisa of using “agents, assignees, proxies and/or employees” to take control of the office in January. These people reportedly painted the building and put up Chamisa’s face.

Chamisa denied involvement and said he hadn’t been to the office since resigning from the CCC. He also claimed not to be part of any political party.

However, Judge Mangota noted that Chamisa didn’t deny the repainting or the portrait, which he considered signs of “despoiling” the property.

The judge also found it suspicious that Chamisa received and responded to the CCC’s court application served at the Bulawayo office. Since Chamisa claims to be in Harare, the judge questioned how he got the application unless someone from the group occupying the office forwarded it to him.

Justice Mangota concluded that Chamisa was likely leading the group that took over the office and rejected his attempt to distance himself. The judge ruled in favour of the CCC, granting them control of the property but assigning each party to cover their own legal costs.