Story by Wellington Makonese
THE elevation of CCC Senator, Sengezo Tshabangu as leader of the opposition in parliament has been described as a progressive move which confirms that Zimbabwe is a working democracy.
This flies in the face of former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa who has been trying to seek political relevance after being left in the cold by his colleagues.
Citizens Coalition for Change interim Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu was this Thursday confirmed as the focal person between government and the opposition with several other party members appointed to serve in various portfolio committees.
They include Honourable Charlton Hwende who is now in the Public Accounts Committee, Honourable Agency Gumbo – Parliamentary Legal Committee, with Caston Mateu, Joana Mamombe and others taking over several posts despite the confusion that rocked the opposition outfit after elections.
Political analyst Mr Lazarus Sauti reckons the development confirms Zimbabwe as a working democracy which allows participation of opposition figures in key national institutions.
“If you check, we all know that Chamisa resigned from CCC and most people expected the party to disorient, But unfortunately for Chamisa, he is now alone. If they are going to accept the mandate, then it will be very clear to everyone that those people who are in parliament right now are following the mandate of representing their various members of constituencies. And to Nelson Chamisa, we have to analyze the political development.
This is a recent statement. He said he’s waiting to hear from SADC but we are seeing that the opposition is moving. The opposition is taking various roles within the parliament, and they are also attending the parliament despite some of the few figures who resigned following Chamisa, of course,” he said.
Another political commentator Mr Elton Ziki noted that the move is a departure from Chamisa’s divisive politics.
“Opposition has awakened in coming to full realisation that they have to participate to fulfill their representation role by virtue of being the representatives of the various constituencies after the concluded August 2023 harmonized elections. This shift since the troubles and the matters bedeviling the opposition soon after the tin-house fights and the subsequent decision of the opposition by Nelson Chamisa, led to the realisation by those in the opposition political parties that they must participate.
This effect fulfills the standing rules and orders of parliament and the constitutional mandate of the legislative house to realize and recognize the players in the political field in Zimbabwe. Fulfilling the political parties act into that effect you also want to pay attention to the fact that the toxic nature of Chamisa’s approach in the national politics has been done away with after this awakening by players in the political spectrum of Zimbabwe,” he said.
The development comes after Chamisa tried in vain to remain politically relevant after addressing a one-man media briefing which confirmed that he had been left in the cold by his colleagues and national politics.
