Chamisa dealt another blow
CCC’S interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu yesterday dealt the party’s beleaguered leader Nelson Chamisa yet another blow after High Court Judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda ruled in favour of his application that the names of 23 party candidates be removed from the ballot papers to be used in the February 3 by-elections.
Those barred from contesting in the polls to be held in a fortnight under the CCC banner include deputy spokesperson Gift Ostallos Siziba who was legislator for Pelandaba-Tshabalala, former leader of the opposition in Parliament Amos Chibaya who was Mkoba North Member of Parliament and Stephen Chagwiza who was representing Goromonzi South.
Former Harare Mayor Ian Makone who was Councillor for Ward 18 is also among the 20 councillors to be expunged from the ballot papers.
The 23 had defiantly filed their nomination papers under the CCC which had recalled them in the first place, defying an earlier order by the High Court that prohibited recalled MPs from running for office in by-elections under the opposition party’s banner. Tshabangu’s High Court victory consequently casts Chamisa and his faction in dire straits as he has now evidently lost control of the party he formed two years ago.
Justice Kwenda issued the order on the premise that the 23 candidates had ceased to be eligible to represent the opposition party when they were recalled by the party’s secretary-general.
“Indeed the respondents were recalled by the first applicant, indeed vacancies were created, by-elections were called for and will be held.
“Having observed the above I find that the applicants have proved or made a good case to declare a correct position which is that the respondents having ceased to be members of CCC and not having being reinstated will not contest in the by-elections under CCC.
“Therefore, consequently it is ordered that the names of the first to the 23 respondents shall not be on ballot papers as members of CCC,” he ruled.
Justice Kwenda urged the CCC to put their house in order while also reprimanding them for wanting to “transmit factionalism” into the High Court.
The CCC’s internal disputes, he said, had nothing to do with the High Court.