SIFISO MAPURANGA
The ruling Zanu PF party said it was unfazed by the boycott of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) by the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) saying business of the house will go ahead with or without them.
This comes as the Nelson Chamisa led party is facing Parliament sanctions for their stance that may include withdrawal of allowances and other benefits.
The party is also embroiled in a legal battle after a Bulawayo based official claimed to have recalled over 10 MPs who he claimed had ceased to be members of the party, presenting a fresh legal headache for the opposition entity.
All MPs and Senators from the opposition boycotted Mnangagwa’s SONA and official opening of the first session of the 10th Parliament on Tuesday in protest over what they called illegitimacy issues surrounding the August 23 elections.
“As Zanu PF we are not bothered by their non-attendance of CCC or their attendance,” Zanu PF secretary for administration Farai Marapira said.
“Our numbers are enough to continue with Parliamentary business or government business without them, so the nation cannot be held at ransom by their nefarious actions,” he added.
“We are not bothered by them coming or not, we have what it takes to take this country forward, we are the ones who have taken care of the interests of Zimbabwe since 1980 and even before.”
The CCC said it was not bound to attend an event addressed by Mnangagwa saying there were issues surrounding his election.
Meanwhile, the CCC has stepped into a legal minefield after an individual purporting to be a senior official, Sengezo Tshabangu, wrote a letter to Parliament and council recalling party officials he said had ceased to be members.
Tshabangu purports to have recalled 12 councillors from Bulawayo, and five others from different provinces in Matabeleland provinces.
He also purports to have fired three MPs from Bulawayo.
However, party spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi rubbished the claims.
“We note the desperation by an impostor who is masquerading as a member of CCC. CCC has clear signatories known to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and have the mandate of the party. These people cannot abuse the name of our leader and the brand of our party,” he said.
“Following a devastating defeat in the election, Zanu PF has resorted to desperate measures in sponsoring impostors to destabilize the party.”
