Zimbabwe’s opposition politics has been thrown back into controversy after Senator Sengezo Tshabangu claimed that senior opposition figures Tendai Biti and Professor Welshman Ncube were part of a leadership panel that approved the recall of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MPs and councillors after the 2023 elections.
Speaking during an interview with journalist Blessed Mhlanga, Tshabangu, who claims to be the interim CCC secretary-general, alleged that the recalls were not a solo operation but a collective decision made by the party’s leadership structures.
When pressed during the interview, Tshabangu who is the opposition leader in Parliament, suggested the two prominent opposition figures supported the process.
“We have got about 42 members of the National Executive.”
When asked directly whether Welshman Ncube backed the recalls, he responded:
“Precisely.”
Pressed further on whether Tendai Biti was also involved, Tshabangu replied:
“Yes.”
He then confirmed that meetings had been held where decisions were taken to expel or recall elected representatives.
“Absolutely.”
Recalls That Shook the Opposition
The recalls were among the most dramatic developments in Zimbabwe’s post-2023 election politics. Shortly after the harmonised elections, Tshabangu wrote letters to Parliament and the Ministry of Local Government recalling dozens of CCC MPs and councillors.
The move triggered by-elections and deepened divisions within the opposition movement. Eventually, ZANU PF won a Two-thirds majority in majority prompting analysts to say whoever was behind the recalls was being remote-controlled by the ruling party to dismantle the opposition.
At the time, rumours circulated that senior CCC figures, including Biti and Ncube, had quietly backed the recalls after being sidelined by then party leader Nelson Chamisa, who had adopted a controversial “strategic ambiguity” approach to party structures.
However, both Biti and Ncube strongly denied any involvement.
Biti’s Strong Denial
In 2023, Biti publicly rejected the allegations, saying he had never supported the use of recalls.
“I don’t believe in recalls. I have never been part of recalls. I will never be part of recalls.”
The former finance minister said he understood the pain of recalls personally, noting that he himself had previously lost his parliamentary seat through the same constitutional provision.
“I know the pain of a recall… My family knows the pain of a recall.”
Biti also dismissed claims that he was working with the ruling ZANU PF, insisting his life had been dedicated to the democratic struggle.
Political Timing Raises Questions
Tshabangu’s remarks come three years after the recalls and at a politically sensitive moment.
Former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa, who stepped away from frontline politics for nearly two years, has recently resurfaced, while opposition figures, including Biti, are mobilising against the proposed Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 of 2026.
The proposed amendment could extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rule to 2030 and potentially change how presidential elections are conducted.
Some analysts believe Tshabangu’s claims could further fracture the already divided opposition, while others argue the allegations may be intended to discredit figures leading the campaign against constitutional changes.
Public Reaction Divided
The claims have sparked fierce debate online and within opposition circles.
Some commentators argue the accusations merely confirm suspicions many already had about internal power struggles within the CCC.
Others, however, believe Tshabangu may be deliberately sowing confusion within opposition ranks, warning that unverified claims could weaken the broader democratic movement.
For now, the allegations have reopened one of Zimbabwe’s most contentious political episodes, and raised fresh questions about what really happened behind the scenes during the CCC recalls.
Leave a Reply