Twenty (20) of the 32 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MPs and senators who attended a field day at President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s farm in Kwekwe on Sunday were appointed to parliament by Sengezo Tshabangu, <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/20-of-32-ccc-lawmakers-at-mnangagwa-farm-were-appointed-by-tshabangu/">reported ZimLive</a>.
Tshabangu, who claims to be the CCC’s interim secretary general, effectively took control of the party after the August 2023 general elections.
The CCC currently holds 115 seats in parliament, including 88 in the National Assembly and 27 in the Senate.
Of the 32 lawmakers who attended Mnangagwa’s invitation, 20, including Tshabangu, were not on the original party list for the 2023 elections.
ZANU PF’s social media pages circulated a list of 34 names of CCC lawmakers they claimed attended the event, including Ellen Shiriyedenga and Truswell Chikomo. However, both lawmakers denied attending the farm visit.
The trip was not organised by parliament but by Mnangagwa’s office. MPs were individually contacted by provincial ministers, with Midlands Minister Owen Ncube appearing to take the lead.
Ncube sent letters to fellow provincial ministers instructing them to invite all MPs from their provinces to the event.
Wrote Ncube:
<blockquote>
His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe Cde Dr E. D. Mnangagwa and Her Excellency, the First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr A. Mnangagwa will be hosting Members of Parliament at his Precabe Farm, Sherwood, Kwekwe.
In light of the above, you are requested to extend this invitation to Honourable Members of Parliament in your respective province to tour Pricabe Farm…
</blockquote>
Tshabangu was relatively unknown within the CCC until months after the August 2023 election, when he declared himself the party’s interim secretary general.
He proceeded to write a series of letters to Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, Senate President Mabel Chinomona, and the Minister of Local Government, recalling dozens of elected representatives.
These letters were quickly acted upon, leading to by-elections that ZANU PF dominated, increasing its parliamentary majority.
Tshabangu then filled proportional representation vacancies with his loyalists and secured a Senate seat for himself as a representative of Matabeleland North.
It was mostly these loyalists who attended the field day at Mnangagwa’s farm on Sunday, while 83 other CCC lawmakers stayed away, viewing the event as a partisan gathering aimed at advancing Mnangagwa’s political agenda.
List of CCC MPs and Senators who attended Mnangagwa Field Day at his Pricabe Farm
1: Nyasha Batitsa, Manicaland, National Assembly (Recall Replacement)
2: Samantha Mureyani, Manicaland, National Assembly (Recall Replacement)
3: Maxwell Mdhluri, Manicaland, Senate (Recall Replacement)
4: Media Kupfuma, Manicaland, Senate (Deceased Replacement)
5: Juliana Makuvire, Harare, National Assembly (2023 Proportional Representation)
6: Bridget Nyandoro, Harare, National Assembly (Elected MP Southerton in 2023)
7: Moses Manyengavana, Harare, Senate (Recall Replacement)
8: Kudakwashe Matibiri, Harare, Senate (Recall Replacement)
9: Takudzani Kunaka, Harare, Senate (Recall Replacement)
10: Melphina Gwabeni, Midlands, National Assembly (Recall Replacement)
11: Josiah Makombe, Midlands, National Assembly (Elected MP Gweru Urban 2023)
12: Sisasenkosi Ndebele, Midlands, Senate (2023 Proportional Representation)
13: Diana Marikano, Mashonaland East, National Assembly (Recall Replacement)
14: Constance Chihota, Mashonaland East, National Assembly (2023 Proportional Representation)
15: Maggie Ngwena, Mashonaland East, Senate (2023 Proportional Representation)
16: Thokozani Khupe, Bulawayo, National Assembly (2023 Proportional Representation)
17: Samukeliso Maseko, Bulawayo, National Assembly (2023 Proportional Representation)
18: Charles Moyo, Bulawayo, National Assembly (Won by-election after legitimate CCC MP recalled in Mpopoma-Mzilikazi)
19: Linda Sibanda, Bulawayo, Senate (Recall Replacement)
20: Kucaca Phulu, Bulawayo, Senate (Recall Replacement)
21: Ottilia Sibanda, Bulawayo, National Assembly (Recall Replacement)
22: Sengezo Tshabangu, Matabeleland North, Senate (Recall Replacement)
23: Theresa Kabondo, Matabeleland North, Senate (Recall Replacement)
24: Lovejoy Sibanda, Matabeleland North, National Assembly (Youth Quota, 2023)
25: Francisca Ncube, Matabeleland North, National Assembly (Women’s Quota, 2023)
26: Lungile Ncube, Bulawayo, National Assembly (Recall Replacement)
27: Spiwe Munemo, Mashonaland West, Senate (Recall Replacement)
28: Tawanda Bvumo, Mashonaland West, Senate (Recall Replacement)
29: Tsungirirai Rungwave, Masvingo, National Assembly (Recall Replacement)
30: Sam Chapfudza, Masvingo, Senate (Recall Replacement)
31: Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa, Matabeleland South, Senate (2023)
32: Joseph Bonda, Matabeleland North, Hwange West (Elected Hwange West MP in 2023).
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

20 out of 32 CCC MPs who visited Mnangagwa's farm were chosen by Tshabangu, not voted in. Tshabangu took control of CCC after 2023 elections. A list of CCC lawmakers who went to the farm was shared by ZANU PF, but some denied going. The visit was not organized by parliament but by Mnangagwa's office. Tshabangu wasn't well known in CCC until after the election when he became the interim secretary general and recalled elected representatives. Those loyal to Tshabangu attended the farm trip, while others stayed away.

20 Of 32 CCC MPs Who Toured Mnangagwa Farm Were Appointed By Tshabangu

Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) self-styled interim secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu said he was not opposed to President Emmerson Mnangagwa extending his stay in power beyond 2028, at the end of his second and final term.
Tshabangu assumed control of CCC soon after the 2023 general elections, with support from Parliament and the courts, which legitimized his leadership of the party.
During a tour of Mnangagwa’s Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe on Sunday, Tshabangu said that if Mnangagwa’s extended stay in power has the support of Zimbabweans, it should be accepted. He said:
<blockquote>
If our presence here improves your stay in power, and that makes the people of Zimbabwe happy, then let it be.
</blockquote>
Tshabangu, who was introduced as the leader of the opposition in Parliament, was given a prominent seat at the event, where he proudly declared, “I am so proud to represent the opposition.”
Once a relative unknown in late 2023, Tshabangu swiftly rose to prominence by declaring himself the Secretary General of the CCC party shortly after the elections.
His self-appointed position came at a time when the party lacked clearly defined roles, and he capitalized on this void.
Tshabangu made waves by writing letters to the Speaker of Parliament, recalling over a hundred CCC MPs, councillors, and senators, a move that was swiftly executed despite protests from within the party.
He also filled proportional representation vacancies with his handpicked appointees. However, he largely failed to field candidates in by-elections for contested seats, which allowed ZANU PF to claim victories and expand its parliamentary majority.
In a further controversial move, he appointed himself as a senator for Matabeleland North.
It now appears that Tshabangu is keen to avoid the 2028 elections, which would likely mark the end of his brief political ascent.
He seems prepared to support ZANU PF MPs’ push to extend the current parliamentary term until at least 2030.
This contentious proposal would require a national referendum and constitutional amendments, as per legal experts.
As reported by <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/tshabangu-backs-zanu-pf-push-for-mnangagwa-to-stay-in-power-beyond-2028/">ZimLive</a>, the opposition lawmakers present at Mnangagwa’s farm tour were Thokozani Khupe, Bridget Nyandoro, Kucaca Phulu, Susan Matsunga, Nonhlanhla Mlotshwa, Juliana Makuvire, Charles Moyo, Maxwell Mdhluli, Samukeliso Maseko, and Otilia Sibanda.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Sengezo Tshabangu from CCC party supports President Mnangagwa staying in power longer than planned. He became leader of CCC after elections. Tshabangu thinks if people want him to stay, it's okay. He made controversial decisions like appointing himself as a senator. He doesn't want elections in 2028. He wants to support ZANU PF's plan to extend government term till 2030. This plan needs a vote and changes to the constitution. Other opposition lawmakers were at Mnangagwa's farm too.

Tshabangu Backs Extended Presidential Term For Mnangagwa

Most opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) Members of Parliament (MPs) skipped a tour of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe on Sunday, January 12.
The CCC is divided into three factions, led by Jameson Timba, Welshman Ncube, and Sengezo Tshabangu.
Tshabangu, the self-styled interim secretary-general, was among the few legislators who visited the farm.
CCC has 88 MPs and 27 senators in Parliament and reports indicate that most of the legislators belong to the Timba faction.
According to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200036929/ccc-mps-boycott-ed-farm-tour">NewsDay</a>, the Timba faction instructed its 50 MPs and 11 Senators not to attend, while the Ncube faction also discouraged attendance.
Tshabangu had encouraged MPs to attend as a platform for dialogue with Mnangagwa, but less than 20 lawmakers showed up.
Most of the attending MPs were appointed by Tshabangu after he recalled dozens of legislators after the August 2023 harmonised elections.
Despite the low turnout, Tshabangu described the attendance as “good”. He said:
<blockquote>
This is the most significant event in the current context of solution-finding, nation-building and consensus.
Zimbabwe is our country. We will find a way of solving our admittedly self-evident national challenges. There is an answer, we will find a way. All we need is to be brave.
</blockquote>
Some of the Parliamentary representatives who attended the tour included Matabeleland MPs Charles Moyo, Kucaca Phulu, and Thokozani Khupe, among others.
Edwin Mushoriwa, the chief whip of the Ncube-led CCC faction, said the party’s legislators did not attend because there was no formal communication from Parliament.
Many perceive the meeting at Precabe Farm as part of Mnangagwa’s backers’ strategy to extend his term of office beyond the current two terms by buying support from the opposition.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Majority of the CCC opposition MPs did not go to Mnangagwa's farm tour. The CCC is split into 3 groups. One group's leader told MPs not to go and another group didn't want them to attend. Only a few MPs went. They were appointed by one of the CCC leaders. The leader who went said the meeting was important for helping the country. Some MPs from Matabeleland went. Another leader said their MPs didn't go because they didn't get a formal invite. Some people think Mnangagwa is trying to get support from the opposition to stay in power longer.

Majority Of CCC MPs Skip Mnangagwa’s Pricabe Farm Tour

President Emmerson Mnangagwa will welcome a delegation of legislators from both houses of Parliament, including members from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction led by Sengezo Tshabangu, to his Pricabe Farm in Kwekwe this Sunday, January 12.
According to <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/president-hosts-legislators-at-pricabe-farm">The Sunday Mail</a>, the parliamentarians will have the opportunity to gain an appreciation of the First Family’s farming activities.
ZANU PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi said that about 300 legislators are expected to visit the farm. He said:
<blockquote>
Yes, I can confirm that about 300 legislators will tour President Mnangagwa’s Pricabe Farm tomorrow (today).
</blockquote>
Tshabangu, the Leader of the opposition in Parliament, confirmed that CCC legislators will take part in the tour. Said Tshabangu:
<blockquote>
We can confirm that our members of Parliament, both the National Assembly and Senate, will tour President Mnangagwa’s farm.
It is part of their parliamentary duties and activities. It is essentially a parliamentary activity.
In the midst of our toxic and often polarising political environment, the attendance of our Members of Parliament is the clearest demonstration of the indivisibility of Zimbabwe; that, while our points of dispute and grievances exist, we are called by the moment to find a way to build national unity and consensus on matters Zimbabwean.
That, because Zimbabwe is our country, we must create mutual trust among Zimbabweans, starting with the leadership, and dialogue with each other for a common prosperous future.
</blockquote>
Leader of Government business in the House and Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, told The Sunday Mail that legislators from both houses requested to tour the farm and have an appreciation of the agricultural activities being done at the farm and President Mnangagwa agreed to their request.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

President Mnangagwa will welcome 300 legislators to his farm in Kwekwe on Sunday. This includes members from the opposition CCC led by Sengezo Tshabangu. The visit is to show them the farming activities of the First Family. Tshabangu said it is part of their duties to tour the farm and build unity in Zimbabwe. The Government agreed to the legislators' request to visit the farm. It is a way to create trust and work together for a better future for Zimbabwe.

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