Parly recalls threaten Zim’s post-election recovery – ZCC

The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC)  has warned that the recalling of Members of Parliament belonging   to the main opposition, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), could relapse the country  into partisan  discourse. 

In a statement, ZCC said the  country  has not been given adequate  time to recover from the disputed August 23 elections. 

“The recalls of CCC parliamentarians places  a wedge between  political  actors and their  supporters, hence further perpetuating the deep polarisation and divisions that has characterized our nation before  and after the 23 August 2023 elections.  The country  is still  recovering  from  the disputed  2023  elections, processes,  outcomes  and results. The recalls  will  relapse  the  country  into partisan discourse  instead  of  healing  and  uniting the  nation towards a common vision.”

 ZCC further argues that the recalls defeat the will of the electorate and makes  their  efforts  vain. 

“Whilst  the  move  to recall MPs was initiated  by political  actors, it disrespects the will of the electorates who sacrificed  their  time on election  day to cast their  vote  and elect the leaders they want. These recalls strongly  send signals that political  actors are power focused and  do not consider  the  will of Zimbabweans who vote, hence  undermining the significance  of elections  as a process  that portrays the will of the  people.”

 The church body expressed  concern about allegations  that the speaker  of  Parliament  Jacob Mudenda disregarded communication  from  CCC President citing that this tends to validate long-standing  assertions  of both state capture and unfair practices by state institutions.

 ZCC called for peace, love and prosperity, healing  and enshrinement of constitutional democracy.

Self-proclaimedCCC interim secretary general (SG),Sengezo Tshabangu wrote to Mudenda to recall 15 party MPs and 9 senators, saying they had ceased to be members of the party. He also wrote to the Local Government Minister Winston Chitando, purportedly recalling 17 CCC councillors.

The CCC has argued that Tshabangu is not a member and hence has no legal standing to recall elected officials.