Zimbabwe - October 2023

In October, Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change, was thrown into chaos by a letter to the parliamentary speaker from a man fraudulently claiming to be the party’s Secretary-General and recalling 14 of its MPs and nine of its senators. Despite a request from the CCC’s leader, Nelson Chamisa, that the letter be disregarded, the parliamentary Speaker and the President of the Senate, who are both members of the governing Zanu-PF party, declared the seats to be vacant, triggering by-elections that create an opportunity for Zanu-PF to achieve a two-thirds majority in the legislature and with it the ability to amend the constitution. The speaker’s decision prompted protests from CCC MPs, who were subsequently suspended for six parliamentary sittings after riot police were called to eject the MPs from the chamber. Chamisa later said CCC would ‘disengage’ from lawmaking. The recalled MPs have challenged their recall in court.      

Note: This report was updated on 13 December for accuracy and comprehensiveness.         

Sources: News 24 (1), Africa Confidential, The Africa Report, News 24 (2), Veritas