Analysis: Does Tshabangu’s silence mean anything?

Many people have unanswered questions on Sengezo Tshabangu’s emergence and how he impacted the political environment in Zimbabwe. Claiming to be the interim Secretary General of the Citizens Coalition for Change party, Tshabangu’s rise to the political discourse has never been one that was honourable.

One might wonder which Secretary General wants to do more harm than good on his party. But why did Tshabangu emerge soon after the 2023 plebiscite?

All that while when people were doing ups and downs registering to vote, preparing for the 2023 General election, nobody ever anticipated that there will be a controversial twist to the political environment like that.

People will be left with no option but to think that Tshabangu was a mole in the Citizens Coalition for Change, waiting for the perfect time to strike a formidable movement which was the only threat to Zanu PF. Perhaps “formidable” is an overstatement but the fact remains, in it’s structureless form, the CCC managed to sweep a handful of Parliamentary seats across the country.

Talking about being structureless and that being echoed by Nelson Chamisa himself, one would wonder where the interim Secretary General post emerged from. It would be rational enough if Tshabangu’s Secretary General appointment was one which a random member of the party knew about when asked.

It means he superimposed or rather was superimposed by those who weren’t happy by the way things were handled in the party, the structurelessness of it. Anyway yakadeuka yakadeuka but on a serious note, why is Tshabangu so silent now?

Tshabangu became so busy in life soon after the 2023 elections which also gave him the opportunity to tour different media houses for interviews. He became so famous for purging democratically elected Members of Parliament and councillors giving way to the by elections which were won by the majority of Zanu-PF MPs and councillors.

A fair analysis would be that Tshabangu gifted Zanu-PF two thirds majority, and according to some he wanted to force Nelson Chamisa to bring order to the party. But why would one try to fix things, internal issues by recalling member’s of Parliament and expect amicable closure to it?

It appears like Sengezo Tshabangu was capitalizing on Chamisa remaining in the party, which also denotes that Chamisa’s resignation was a strategic one. Nelson Chamisa left the Citizens Coalition for Change early in 2024, claiming the massive infiltration by Zanu PF elements.

Could Tshabangu be the chief element in this? It is unclear if Chamisa’s claims that he doesn’t know Tshabangu nor recognize his post, was sincere or just yet another political gimmick to escape implications and public backlash.

Ever since Chamisa’s departure, it appears like Tshabangu’s survival in the political discourse is done and dusted. Perhaps another angle would suggest that he was meant for that and Chamisa’s resignation meant a successful mission.

This would then imply that his gradual evaporation from the political landscape maybe sponsored and planned, by his handlers, by Zanu PF, who knows?

With issues preceding before the by-elections, the likes of the controversial death of the clergyman, Masaya, Tshabangu never issued a public statement nor a condolence message. It would appear like winning court cases to score points and spite Chamisa were his only goals. But who are we to demand a condolence message from someone who doesn’t want to?

Maybe we can say he accomplished his mission of defeating Chamisa who has since left the party, and now he is currently a senator, thanks to whoever gave him the mandate. The question now remains, why is OUR interim Secretary General so quiet and not busy whipping members into line.

Lately we have seen the likes of Mafume attending the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, a Zanu PF programme. If Tshabangu was a man of integrity, would he not have recalled Mafume or sanction him otherwise.

Maybe Tshabangu’s recent quietness may be due to the dynamics and probable legal and political repercussions on his controversial actions.
Another possibility of Tshabangu’s quietness might be to avoid further controversy for his actions were highly disputed and could potentially result in legal battles or other consequences.

The Citizens Coalition for Change leadership and many of its members did not recognize his authority to initiate the recalls, which might have forced him into a more reserved stance.

Also Tshabangu’s silence might be a strategic move, to allow the dust to settle after the intense reactions to his ridiculous actions. Zimbabwe, which has a politically charged environment, political players who involve themselves into events which draw public scrutiny and backlash, normally and sometimes retreat from the public eye to reassess their positions or to avoid escalating tensions, which could be what Tshabangu is doing.

Another theory about Tshabangu’s quietness could be about the behind-the-scenes negotiations with Zanu-PF to twist the constitution to avoid elections in 2028, which (elections) is likely going to put an end to his career.

Zimbabweans normally do not forget and forgive so easily, but out of despair, they seem to be politically indifferent. Its so clear that post 2028 elections, Tshabangu will be nowhere to be found in the political discussion in Zimbabwe and Tshabangu maybe fully aware of this and the only way to remain enjoying the benefits of “recalling MPs”, he has to connive to extend the ruling tenure of those enabling him.

More: The Zim Bulletin News