Tshabangu pushes for inclusive government

GOVERNMENT is on the verge of releasing several thousands of dollars to self-styled Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu under the Political Parties Finances Act.

The Act provides for state funding of political parties with parliamentary representation.

The Standard established Tshabangu’s CCC was also involved in talks with the ruling Zanu PF for an “inclusive government”, a development that would effectively extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term.

Mnangagwa is serving his second and last term under the current constitution.

Indications, however, point to a push to extend his term beyond 2028 with slogans already being popularised stating that he will still be in office in 2030.

Mnangagwa recently denied ambitions to extend his term, but he has done little to caution his supporters against saying that he will be in office beyond 2028.

The Standard gathered that talks between Tshabangu’s CCC and Zanu PF had gathered momentum.

Tshabangu imposed himself as the secretary-general of the CCC last year and snatched the party from its leader Nelson Chamisa.

He went on to recall CCC legislators, councillors and Senators, resulting in Chamisa ditching the opposition party in frustration.

In an interview with The Standard on Wednesday, Tshabangu said the opposition party was in support of the ruling party’s “vision” and the need to form an inclusive government.

“We have not yet met President Mnangagwa in person, but soon we will,” he said.

“But already there is a conversation underway to talk about the inclusive arrangement, the inclusive government.

“For now, the talks are between Zanu and CCC, but we want our conversation to broaden.

“The more the merrier — churches, academics, we need to involve them. We are all Zimbabweans.”

Zimbabwe had an inclusive government between Zanu PF and the MDC from 2009 to 2013 following the disputed 2008 election.

“We want to make sure that we fit into the vision of the current government and put our input in that vision,” Tshabangu said.

“There is no country without a vision. Zanu PF is in government and is ruling.

“They have their vision and we have ours as an alternative government, therefore, at some stage our views are taken into consideration.”

Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa declined to comment on the issue and referred questions to party secretary for security and confidante Lovemore Matuke.

But Matuke was not picking his phone.

In his latest weekly column published by the State media under the pen name Jamwanda 2, Mnangagwa’s spokesperson George Charamba confirmed the talks between Zanu PF and CCC describing them as “mature and trustworthy overtures”.

“Only those living in political cuckoo-land, or wrapped in integument of hard denial, were surprised by the great, all-party convocation at Murambinda Independence Celebration,” he said.”

“It had been long in the making; it had to happen; it happened, setting the stage for a new type of constructive politics for our country.

“Chamisa can choose to stand by, or to join without any pre-conditions. His future in politics will thus be decided, depending on which option he exercises.”

Chamisa, who has refused to accept Mnangagwa as a legitimate leader after the August 2023 disputed poll, has been calling for dialogue with Mnangagwa but his efforts have hit a brick wall.

Tshabangu also told The Standard that the government was finalising the process of disbursing political parties’ funds to his CCC.

Government had refused to disburse the funds citing the CCC ownership dispute between Tshabangu and Chamisa.

“We haven’t yet received the funds but that’s the right thing to do because we are the authority so there is no reason why we can’t get that money,” Tshabangu said.

“The ministry (Justice) has approached us for the details so certainly it is a plan in progress.

“They have requested for our banking details, account numbers, they are in the process of issuing us the tender number, and then they deposit the fund.”

Efforts to get a comment from Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi were in vain as his mobile number was not picked.

But CCC Chamisa faction spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi insisted that the party was the legitimate beneficiary of the political parties’ funds.

“We are entitled to the money and the government should do the right thing because we are the CCC that is in Parliament,” Mkwananzi said.

“Government should not make that decision but the laws should decide.”