Citizens Coalition for Change | |
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Secretary-General | Sengezo Tshabangu |
President (Disputed) | Tendai Biti [1] Jameson Timba [2] |
Founder | Nelson Chamisa |
Founded | 22 January 2022 |
Split from | Movement for Democratic Change Alliance |
Headquarters | Harare |
Ideology | Social democracy [3] Christian democracy [4] Liberal democracy [5] [6] [7] Civic nationalism [8] [9] Left-wing nationalism [10] Social conservatism [11] Anti-corruption [12] |
Political position | Centre-left [13] |
Colours | Yellow |
National Assembly | 82 / 280 |
Senate | 22 / 80 |
Pan-African Parliament | 0 / 5 |
Website | |
www | |
The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is a Zimbabwean political party. It was established by former members of the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance. [14] [15]
Nelson Chamisa formed Citizens Coalition for Change after losing [16] the squabbles over party name "MDC Alliance". The president of the CCC party presented yellow as the new color and raising the index finger as the new symbol. [17] CCC has no constitution. A way to avoid being bound by its supremacy as it was in MDC. After forming the party, most MDC Alliance MPs and councilors who showed allegiance to Chamisa were recalled from parliament by Douglas Mwonzora, who took over MDC Alliance. This, together with some deaths of officials, called for by-elections in 28 seats which were conducted on 26 March 2022 in which the newly formed CCC won 19 and ZANU–PF won 9. [18] It is worthy noting that ZANU-PF gained 9 more parliamentary seats since 2018. The rump MDC Alliance which Mwonzora headed did not win a seat. Weeks before the by-election saw some government-sponsored violence against CCC (including violence at CCC rally in Kwekwe which led to the death of a party supporter)[ citation needed ], unjustified behavior from the Zimbabwe Republic Police which include banning of CCC rallies, beating up of party supporters, arrests of CCC party officials (of note, Tendai Biti and Madzibaba Veshanduko), etc.[ citation needed ]
After forming the party in 2022, the interim leader Nelson Chamisa refused to craft an interim constitution and party structures. At its formation, the CCC party had the president of the CCC party Nelson Chamisa as the sole office holder. Taking advantage of this lack of organization (lack of interim constitution and party structures), a one Sengezo Tshabangu started claiming that he was the interim secretary general of the party. It has been suggested that he represents an agitated group old generation of MDC Alliance who were sidelined by Nelson Chamisa, most notably Tendai Biti and Welshman Ncube who were VPs in the MDC Alliance. However, so far these suggestions have not been proven. Some have suggested that Tshabangu represents a shadowy group called FAZ that runs shady electorals tasks for the ruling ZANU–PF. However, this has also been a subject of conjecture. On 3 October 2022, Tshabangu wrote letters to the speaker of the parliament, president of the senate, and minister of local government recalling recalling MPs, senators and councillors who were elected on the CCC ticket. He submitted his own credentials and interim constitution to the parliament and ZEC, which essentially meant he was now the bona fide leader of the party. The letters were accepted and the MPs, senators and councillors were recalled. The recalled MPs, Senators and Councillors approached the high court of Zimbabwe claiming that Tshabangu was not a member of the CCC party moreso the secretary general. However, they couldn't provide any proof that Tshabangu was not the secretary general since the party has no constitution, party member list, or even minutes of their meetings. So in essence, Sengezo Tshabangu took control of the CCC party after the high court judgement. The recalled MPs, Senators and Councillors approached the supreme court of Zimbabwe, however their case is most likely to be thrown out since they dont have proof that Sengezo Tshabangu is not the secretary general of the CCC party since the party had no interim constitution, party structures or minutes of their meetings. At the same time the CCC party has approached the high court interdicting Tshabangu from using its party name, symbols and claiming to be the secretary general, however their case will also be thrown out since they dont have proof that Sengezo Tshabangu is not the secretary general of the CCC party since the party had no interim constitution, party structures or minutes of their meetings. Instead Sengezo Tshabangu has submitted an interim constitution of the party which means he is now the bona fide leader of the party.[ citation needed ]
Chamisa resigned on 27 January 2024, citing government interference that had "contaminated" and "hijacked" the CCC. [19]
After Nelson Chamisa resigned as party president and member of the CCC, other members who were loyal to him also left the party. Among the notable departures were Rusty Markham and Fadzayi Mahere. [20] In February 2024 it was announced that Welshman Ncube will serve as interim party leader on a 90-day rotational arrangement with Tendai Biti and Lynette Karenyi-Kore until the party holds its elective congress. [21]
Election | Party candidate | Votes | Percentage | Votes | Percentage | Result |
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First Round | Second Round | |||||
2023 | Nelson Chamisa | 1,967,243 | 44.03% | — | — | Lost![]() |
Election | Party leader | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | Position | Result |
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2022 (by-election) | Nelson Chamisa | 19 / 28 | ![]() | ![]() | Opposition | ||
2023 | 1,856,393 | 41.46% | 103 / 280 | ![]() | ![]() | Opposition | |
2023 (by-election) | 2 / 10 | ![]() | |||||
2024 (by-election) | Unknown | 0 / 6 | ![]() |
Election | Party leader | Seats | +/– | Position | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2023 | Nelson Chamisa | 27 / 80 | ![]() | ![]() | Opposition |
Tendai Laxton Biti is a Zimbabwean politician who served as Finance Minister of Zimbabwe from 2009 to 2013. He is the second Vice President of Citizens Coalition for Change. He was the Secretary-General of the Movement for Democratic Change and the subsequent Movement for Democratic Change – Tsvangirai (MDC-T) political parties and a Member of Parliament for Harare East until he was expelled from the party and recalled from parliament in mid-2014,before winning the seat again in 2018.
Nelson Chamisa is a Zimbabwean politician and the former President of the Citizens Coalition For Change. He served as Member of the House of Assembly of Zimbabwe for Kuwadzana East, Harare. Chamisa was the MDC Alliance's candidate for president in the 2018 general election, having previously been the leader of the party's youth assembly. He was the Presidential candidate for the Citizens Coalition for Change in the 2023 Zimbabwean Presidential election. He has served as the former chairperson of national youth for the same party as well as the Secretary for Information and Publicity for the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). In 2003, at the age of 25, Chamisa became the youngest Member of Parliament. Chamisa was also the youngest cabinet minister in Government of National Unity of Zimbabwe in 2009.
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Sengezo Tshabangu is a Zimbabwean politician. Since March 2024, Tshabangu has served in the Zimbabwe parliament as a Senator from Matabeleland North Province. He claims to be the interim Secretary General of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC). In October 2023, he recalled fifteen parliamentarians and seventeen councilors, including Masvingo's mayor, citing they were no longer party members in October. He went on to recall a further nine councilors, including Harare mayor Ian Makoni and his deputy on 9 November 2023. On May 30, 2024, National Assembly Speaker Advocate Jacob Mudenda announced that Tshabangu was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the Zimbabwe parliament. However, it has not yet reported if he was sworn in to this position. It was also revealed that no meeting was held for this decision among CCC MPs.
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