In an unexpected turn of events, Jacob Mudenda, the Speaker of Zimbabwe’s Parliament, has expelled 15 Members of Parliament (MPs). This happened even after Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), had made it clear that these MPs were still legitimate members of the party.

The controversy started when a man named Songezo Tshabangu wrote to Mudenda on October 3. In his letter, Tshabangu said that he was the interim Secretary-General of the CCC. He claimed that several MPs and councillors were no longer part of the party, which meant they had to be removed. According to Zimbabwe’s constitution, if an MP leaves the party they were elected under, they immediately lose their seat in Parliament.

However, there is a big problem with Tshabangu’s claims. He used to be involved with other opposition groups, like the MDC-T and the PDP, but he is not recognised as a member of the CCC at all. Nelson Chamisa, the real leader of the CCC, quickly responded to this. He wrote a letter to Speaker Mudenda saying that Tshabangu was lying. Chamisa made it clear that Tshabangu is not a member of the CCC and does not hold any position within the party.

In his letter to the Speaker, Chamisa said: “Songezo Tshabangu is not a member of CCC and as such cannot provide, avail, or adduce evidence of such membership as his name does not appear on any of CCC street or village registers of any district, in any province, as administered by the CCC Bureau of Organising.”

Chamisa also pointed out that the CCC does not have a Secretary-General or an interim Secretary-General, as Tshabangu claimed. Chamisa made it clear that no MPs elected under the CCC have been expelled or recalled from any position, whether in the National Assembly, the Senate, or any council.

Chamisa went on to stress the seriousness of Tshabangu’s actions. He said, “Hon Speaker, the conduct of Mr Tshabangu is in fact a wanton violation of our laws and clear act of criminality. As such, criminal charges have been filed against him.” In other words, Chamisa believes that Tshabangu’s actions are illegal, and he has taken legal steps to deal with it.

Despite all of this, Speaker Mudenda still went ahead and expelled the 15 MPs. This decision has caused a lot of confusion and concern. Many people are now questioning the Speaker’s decision, especially since Chamisa provided clear evidence that the MPs are still members of the CCC.

There are also bigger concerns about what this means for the country’s politics. Mudenda’s decision could affect how Parliament functions, and it might make the political situation in Zimbabwe even more unstable.

In the end, this situation shows that Zimbabwe is going through some difficult times politically. Tshabangu’s false claims and the Speaker’s decision have not only affected the MPs involved but have also brought attention to deeper problems in the country’s political system. It is clear that this is not the end of the story. The political arena in Zimbabwe is likely to face even more challenges as the situation unfolds.

People will be watching closely to see what happens next, and how these decisions will impact the country’s future. For now, though, it’s clear that there are still many unanswered questions about the legitimacy of the Speaker’s decision and what it means for Zimbabwe’s politics as a whole.