A recent ruling by the Harare High Court in Zimbabwe has significantly impacted the political landscape ahead of the upcoming by-elections scheduled for Saturday. The court ruled in favor of Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the interim secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), despite the party leadership labeling him as an impostor. This ruling has led to the barring of most CCC opposition candidates from participating in the by-elections.
In October, Tshabangu had used his claimed position to have the seats of 14 CCC lawmakers declared vacant by parliament, which triggered these by-elections in nine constituencies. These were constituencies that the CCC had won under a first-past-the-post system in a disputed election held in August. The MPs who were recalled sought to reclaim their seats in the upcoming elections. However, Tshabangu argued that they could not run under the CCC banner without his approval, a stance that the court upheld. Consequently, the names of eight of the nine lawmakers were ordered to be struck off the ballot.
Promise Mkwananzi, the CCC spokesperson, expressed the party’s discontent with the ruling, highlighting it as an example of the “kangaroo nature” of Zimbabwean courts and a sign of “total democratic regression” since President Emmerson Mnangagwa took office in 2017. Mkwananzi stated that the courts in Zimbabwe have ceased to be just and neutral arbiters of disputes, which is a concerning development. The CCC has appealed the ruling at the Supreme Court.
The outcome of the by-elections is crucial, as victories for the ruling ZANU-PF party could bring it closer to achieving a two-thirds parliamentary majority. This majority is necessary for amending the constitution. ZANU-PF currently needs an additional 10 seats to reach this supermajority in the 280-member parliament. There is speculation among analysts that the ruling party may seek to remove the two-term presidential limit, potentially allowing President Mnangagwa, who is 81 years old, to extend his control over the nation.
The recent court decision and the by-elections have intensified political tensions in Zimbabwe, a country already grappling with issues surrounding democratic standards. The CCC, led by Nelson Chamisa, has reported a campaign of intimidation against its members both before and after the vote. This includes incidents of abductions, with one CCC supporter being killed and others being snatched.
The political situation in Zimbabwe remains tense, with the CCC continuing to challenge the actions and claims of Tshabangu, who they assert is not a member of their party and is allegedly supported by ZANU-PF.
