Brian Sithole
Opposition activist Sengezo Tshabangu, claiming to be Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary general and initiated recalls of over 15 Members of Parliament and several councillors has claimed that Nelson Chamisa’s allies were responsible for the incarceration of firebrand opposition leader Job Sikhala who they feel was a threat.
Tshabangu also claimed he was overwhelmingly elected to the position he now holds by the same meeting and process that elected Nelson Chamisa as interim leader hence he remain bonafide.
He also claimed that his decision to recall the MPs was a collective as he was working with some leaders in the party he however, refused to name saying the matter was still before the courts.
“Job Sikhala is in prison because of criminals around the president (Chamisa),” he said.
“They threw him under the bus because they claim he is a threat to the president.”
Tshabangu said basing on advice from the “criminals” around him, Chamisa has failed to intervene to find a political solution to a political incarceration of the former student leader.
He said he will soon be engaging Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Zanu PF secretary general Obert Mpofu among others to plead Sikhala’s case.
The former Member of Parliament for Zengeza West, celebrated his 51st birthday in Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison since his arrest on June 14, 2022, after being accused of inciting public violence during the funeral wake of a slain CCC activist, Moreblessing Ali.
“We are targeting the criminals around the president, they have put the party into jeopardy by misleading the president and thought whatever they say is correct. They manipulated (primary election) results from communities. We tried all we could but we can’t fail and correct those things.”
On claims by Chamisa that he was stranger to him, Tshabangu said: “I spoke to him, I have V11s and people will be surprised. We come a long way. I was in his executive when he was chairman of the MDC youth assembly. I am in touch with him. I don’t know his motive, what he wants to achieve by claiming those things. He hasn’t challenged me in courts, why hasn’t he challenged me in courts?”
He was speaking on a ZiFM Stereo programme, The Platform, last night.
Tshabangu also claimed that some of the leaders in the party were behind the recalls as they were equally disgruntled by the leadership of Chamisa whom he accused of listening more to “criminals around the president.”
“The leadership was also behind these recalls. Let us respect the process that is underway. We have an independent judiciary system, one of the best in Southern Africa and will bring a judgement no one can dispute. I have never doubted this judiciary system since independence.”
He denied he was a Zanu PF stooge and rubbished Chamisa’s claims that he was furthering the ruling party interests working with Forever Associate Zimbabwe.
“I am not Zanu PF, I have never been Zanu PF,” he said. “Everyone with a different opinion is labelled Zanu so I am not the first one. I am a footprint of Joshua Nkomo, Dumiso Dabengwa, Herbert Chitepo and many others. Joshua Nkomo was given a tag by Robert Mugabe because they had differed and he was called a terrorist, (Thokozani) Khupe was almost burnt in Buhera and Welshman Ncube was labelled a CIO because he had differed with Tsvangirai and me being labelled FAZ or anything is not new but I am not.”
“There is overwhelming proof that I am interim secretary general. Who has questioned president Chamisa and why are they questioning my authority when we were appointed by the same process?” Tshabangu claimed while narrating his history as an opposition member.
