UPDATE ON THE TSHABANGU VS CCC COURT CASE.
By Willias Madzimure | On Thursday 27 February 2025 a case management meeting was held before the Judge President, Justice Dube for two cases filed by Sengezo Tshabangu against CCC, the CCC National Disciplinary Committee and the Speaker and President of the Senate, namely, HCH 830/25 and HCH 875/25.
This is a standard procedure in applications filed on an urgent basis. The purpose of the case management meeting was for the Judge to give directions on time lines for the filing of pleadings in the two cases.
At the case management meeting the Speaker of Parliament’s lawyers indicated, for the first time in the history of recalls, that The Speaker and President of Senate would not oppose the application but instead would abide by whatever ruling the court will make.
It is worth noting that the Speaker has consistently opposed applications filed by CCC against Tshabangu in which applications he should have been taking the position that he would abide by the court rulings.
With respect to case No. HCH830/25 ( the application in which Tshabangu seeks that the expulsion from CCC be set aside) the Court directed, with the consent of the parties, that pleadings would be filed as follows:
1. The CCC will file its notice of opposition by 5 March 2025.
2. Sengezo Tshabangu would file his Answering Affidavit together with his heads of argument by 10 March 2025.
3. CCC will file it’s heads of argument by 12 March 2025.
4. The matter would then be argued before the Judge President on 13 March 2025 with judgement being handed down on 17 March 2025.
The Judge President expressed the view that the filing of HCH875/25 (the case in which Tshabangu seeks to interdict his anticipated recall) was unnecessary as HCH830/25 would, which ever way it would be decided, resolve the dispute between the parties.
She accordingly suggested that it should be withdrawn by Tshabangu. She further asked if CCC would be prepared to make an undertaking not to act on the outcome of the National Disciplinary Committee until HCH830/25 was heard and determined. The lawyers for CCC duly made the undertaking.
On the other hand the lawyers for Tshabangu undertook to withdraw HCH875/25 on the date of hearing of HCH830/25.
In the circumstances, any communication alleging that an interim order interdicting the recall of Tshabangu was made by the Court is utterly false and must be understood in the context of attention seeking antiques from a sinking bunch.
Willias Madzimure
CCC- Secretary for Information, communication and Publicity