Former legislator and opposition figure, Joice Mujuru Mahere, has provided a detailed account of her resignation from Parliament and the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in January 2024, citing frustration with party leadership and parliamentary dysfunction.
Mahere previously explained that she could not represent a party whose leadership was unknown to her following its takeover by Sengezo Tshabangu. She also expressed concern over members disregarding voters’ will, handing over parliamentary seats to advance political agendas rather than honoring citizens’ choices.
On 22 October, Mahere elaborated on her departure, describing repeated obstacles she faced in Parliament, particularly being blocked by the Speaker from raising points of order. In a post on X, she wrote that Parliament, in its current form, had become “a sham,” where legislators were denied the opportunity to engage in reasoned debate or exercise oversight over the Executive.
Mahere recounted instances where her microphone was turned off, and she was ordered to sit down when attempting to speak. She described confrontations with fellow MPs, including heckling by Zanu-PF’s Enoch Zhou, and claimed that when she invoked Standing Rules to challenge the Speaker’s conduct, she was often forcibly removed by riot police and subjected to suspensions.
“Weekly fisty cuffs with the poe-poe was not what I’d spend hours reading draft bills, analyzing policy reports, and scrutinizing Cabinet conduct for. I sell time,” Mahere wrote, emphasizing that she could not condone a parliamentary environment where proper representation and accountability were systematically undermined.
She said she foresaw a larger agenda aimed at eroding constitutional limits to extend President Mnangagwa’s term, likening the process to a repeat of the authoritarianism seen under Robert Mugabe. Mahere stressed that her conscience would not allow her to participate in what she described as “an insidious choreographed charade.”
Reflecting on her tenure, Mahere said that despite the challenges and personal risks, including imprisonment for social media posts, she remained committed to accountability. “They can’t turn off my mic,” she stated, signaling her ongoing determination to speak out on governance and constitutional issues.
Mahere’s revelations paint a picture of a parliamentary system where political maneuvering and intimidation overshadow legislative duties, reinforcing her decision to step away from both the CCC and her parliamentary role.
Source – online
The post Mahere details reasons for leaving CCC, Parliament first appeared on The Zimbabwe Mail.