High Court Weighs Power Struggle in Zimbabwe Opposition Party.
A fight over who leads Zimbabwe's main opposition party reached the High Court. Two men claim the right to name party leaders in Parliament.
Professor Welshman Ncube says he runs the Citizens Coalition for Change party. He wants to stop changes made by Sengezo Tshabangu, who fired several party members from their jobs in Parliament.
Ncube asked the court to block these moves. His team says the party rules don't let Tshabangu make such big choices. But Tshabangu's lawyers say the changes already happened, and the court can't undo them.
Judge Neville Wamambo listened to both sides and will decide if the case can proceed. The fight started when Tshabangu appointed new people to important Parliamentary positions. He replaced Lynette Karenyi-Kore with Maureen Kademaunga as leader of the opposition.
Lewis Uriri, speaking for Tshabangu, told the court this case needs to go somewhere else. He said it belongs in the Constitutional Court, not here. The changes took effect on December 16 before anyone could stop them.
Method Ndlovu stood up for Ncube. He said the head of Parliament broke the rules by accepting Tshabangu's changes. A court battle about Tshabangu's power had not ended when he made these moves.
The case matters because it affects who speaks for the opposition in Parliament. Several party members lost their committee jobs. They include Caston Matewu, who ran the media committee, and others who led groups on education and youth issues.
This court battle shows deep splits in Zimbabwe's opposition. The judge must decide whether he can help fix the problem or if it needs to be settled by a different court.
A fight over who leads Zimbabwe's main opposition party reached the High Court. Two men claim the right to name party leaders in Parliament.
Professor Welshman Ncube says he runs the Citizens Coalition for Change party. He wants to stop changes made by Sengezo Tshabangu, who fired several party members from their jobs in Parliament.
Ncube asked the court to block these moves. His team says the party rules don't let Tshabangu make such big choices. But Tshabangu's lawyers say the changes already happened, and the court can't undo them.
Judge Neville Wamambo listened to both sides and will decide if the case can proceed. The fight started when Tshabangu appointed new people to important Parliamentary positions. He replaced Lynette Karenyi-Kore with Maureen Kademaunga as leader of the opposition.
Lewis Uriri, speaking for Tshabangu, told the court this case needs to go somewhere else. He said it belongs in the Constitutional Court, not here. The changes took effect on December 16 before anyone could stop them.
Method Ndlovu stood up for Ncube. He said the head of Parliament broke the rules by accepting Tshabangu's changes. A court battle about Tshabangu's power had not ended when he made these moves.
The case matters because it affects who speaks for the opposition in Parliament. Several party members lost their committee jobs. They include Caston Matewu, who ran the media committee, and others who led groups on education and youth issues.
This court battle shows deep splits in Zimbabwe's opposition. The judge must decide whether he can help fix the problem or if it needs to be settled by a different court.
