Zimbabwe MPs fight back after losing seats over forged letter
In a troubling turn of events, fifteen opposition MPs in Zimbabwe are taking legal action, alleging that they were deceived into losing their parliamentary seats. The losses occurred when an individual claiming to be the party’s secretary sent a false letter stating that the MPs were no longer members of the party.
Upon receiving this forged letter, Zimbabwe’s parliamentary speaker declared the 15 seats vacant, which could potentially grant the ruling party, Zanu-PF, the majority needed to make amendments to the constitution.
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The letter, signed by a person named “Sengezo Tshabangu,” who claimed to be the secretary general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, was riddled with grammatical errors, raising suspicion of its authenticity.
CCC leader Nelson Chamisa promptly requested the speaker, Jacob Mudenda, to dismiss the letter, highlighting that the party had no secretary general and had not expelled or recalled any MPs. Mr. Chamisa condemned the fraudulent act, describing it as a flagrant violation of the law and a clear act of criminality.
However, despite the opposition leader’s plea, Mr. Mudenda, who is a member of Zanu-PF, declared the seats vacant in a letter addressed to the electoral commission. In response, the affected CCC MPs filed an appeal with the court to challenge this decision.
“We will not accept such disrespectful behavior towards our constitution and democracy,” stated Promise Mkwananzi, spokesperson for the CCC, emphasizing their determination to fight against this injustice.
The repercussions of this incident are likely to heighten political tensions in Zimbabwe, which have been particularly intense since the controversial presidential elections held in August. During those elections, 45-year-old Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the CCC, lost to the incumbent 81-year-old president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in a race that international observers criticized for falling short of democratic standards.
Zanu-PF, the ruling party that has held power for over four decades, secured a majority in parliament but fell just short of the number required to amend the constitution.
In addition to these concerns, the CCC has raised serious allegations of politically motivated arrests, asserting that more than a dozen individuals affiliated with their party, including MPs and councillors, have been apprehended on false charges since the election. The CCC sees these actions as further threats to the democracy and stability of Zimbabwe.