High Court Nullifies Sengezo Tshabangu’s Expulsion from CCC
Judge Rules CCC Leadership Terms Expired, Declares Expulsion Invalid
HARARE – The High Court has declared Sengezo Tshabangu’s expulsion from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) invalid in a default judgment. Judge President Mary Zimba-Dube ruled that CCC president Welshman Ncube failed to prove he was authorized to represent the party in court.
Court Finds CCC Leadership Illegitimate
The landmark ruling states that CCC office bearers elected at the 2019 Gweru Congress have been holding their positions unlawfully since May 27, 2024, when their terms expired. The judgment protects Tshabangu and the CCC’s parliamentary caucuses while declaring current party officials “impostors.”
Justice Zimba-Dube criticized Ncube’s legal team for submitting irrelevant documents, including an outdated 2022 party resolution. “Pleadings should be drafted with diligence and attention to detail,” the judge remarked, noting the affidavit contained fundamental errors about party representation.
Technical Errors Prove Costly for CCC
The court found that Ncube:
- Failed to provide proper authorization to represent CCC
- Submitted a resolution unrelated to the current case
- Made critical errors in identifying parties to the litigation
“There being no authority to defend this application, there is no opposition,” the judge concluded, striking out CCC’s response.
Disciplinary Process Declared Null and Void
The court set aside the disciplinary proceedings against Tshabangu, which stemmed from his replacement of CCC’s parliamentary leadership. The disciplinary committee – comprising Sesel Zvidzai, Concillia Chinanzvavana, Gilbert Kagodora and Shepherd Mushonga – was found to lack proper authority.
Ncube told ZimLive the party would consider applying for rescission of judgment, acknowledging they had submitted the wrong resolution.
Advocate Lewis Uriri represented Tshabangu, while Advocate Method Ndlovu appeared for Ncube and CCC.