SPEAKER MUDEDA AND ZANU PF CHIEF WHIP CLASH WITH JOANA MAMOMBE OVER REINSTATED CCC MPS

Tensions ran high in Zimbabwe’s Parliament recently when CCC Harare West MP Joana Mamombe raised a key issue—why 23 opposition MPs who were recalled from Parliament have not yet been reinstated, despite a ruling by the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) in their favour.

The clash began when Mamombe tried to speak on behalf of her colleagues who were unfairly removed. But before she could fully make her case, she was cut off. Zanu PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi stood up and said the issue had already been dealt with and should not be raised again. Speaker Jacob Mudenda backed him, shutting down Mamombe’s point of privilege.

This move to silence her has sparked outrage.

In March, the IPU, which speaks for parliaments around the world, released a report that clearly stated the recall of the CCC MPs was wrong. The MPs were removed based on a letter sent by a man named Sengezo Tshabangu. He claimed to be the secretary-general of the CCC party, but he was never elected or given that role. He is a self-appointed figure. Yet Parliament, the courts, and the government all accepted his word and acted on his letter.

The IPU said these actions violated the basic rights of elected MPs and went against Zimbabwe’s own Constitution. It said this case showed a dangerous trend where political opponents are silenced and the will of the voters is ignored.

In Parliament, Mamombe wanted answers. She was asking the Speaker to explain why, after the IPU had ruled in favour of the recalled MPs, Parliament had not taken steps to bring them back. She said it was her right to ask such a question and to defend the people’s vote.

But Mudenda did not allow her to finish. He said the matter had already been discussed at the IPU Assembly and that Zimbabwe had responded to the concerns. According to him, the issue was closed.

This response has only raised more questions. Many now wonder what Mudenda is hiding. If Zimbabwe has nothing to fear, why block MPs from raising international concerns? Why silence a fellow parliamentarian who is standing up for democracy and justice?

The IPU’s report made it clear: the recalls were carried out in bad faith. The MPs were kicked out without a fair process. The IPU even asked the Zimbabwean Parliament and Senate to provide more information, showing that the matter is far from settled.

The report also mentioned a letter from former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa. In that letter, Chamisa told Parliament that Tshabangu was not part of the party and that his actions should not be trusted. But the letter was ignored because it arrived after the MPs were removed—even though it was written weeks before.

The way this whole issue was handled shows how broken Zimbabwe’s political system is. The judiciary has been accused of siding with the ruling party. The Speaker of Parliament is seen as working against the opposition. And now, MPs like Mamombe are being silenced for simply doing their job—representing the people.

This isn’t just about politics. It’s about respect for democracy, the rule of law, and the rights of the people who voted. When elected MPs are removed without good reason, and when those who speak up are shut down, democracy is under attack.

The world is watching. The IPU has taken a stand, and Zimbabwe’s leaders must now decide: will they fix this injustice, or continue down a path of repression and political manipulation?

The people of Zimbabwe deserve a Parliament that works for them—not one that obeys party instructions while ignoring international criticism and public outcry. The question remains: will justice ever be done for the recalled CCC MPs, or will silence and secrecy continue to rule the day?