The internal leadership crisis within the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), deepened this week after Mbuso Siso, who claims to be the party’s interim Treasurer General, filed an urgent application at the Bulawayo High Court challenging his removal.
Siso says he was removed unlawfully by CCC Interim Secretary General, Sengezo Tshabangu.
In court papers dated April 8, 2026, Siso seeks a declaratory order to nullify his dismissal and to stop Tshabangu from interfering with his duties or accessing party funds.
This development comes after Tshabangu announced a new “leadership committee” and removed Siso from his position as Interim Treasurer General via a letter dated February 13, 2026.
The letter, attached as Annexure A1 to the court application, appointed Kudakwashe Matibiri as the new Interim Treasurer General.
Siso responded with a cease-and-desist letter on March 3, 2026, which he says Tshabangu “neglected or refused to respond to.”
In his founding affidavit, Siso contended his removal was “unlawful, ultra vires the Constitution of the CCC and a flagrant violation of the principles of natural justice.”
Siso argues Tshabangu has no constitutional authority to remove a senior office bearer.
Citing Article 9.1.2.3 of the CCC Constitution, Siso states only the party president has the power to “supervise office bearers and recommend their suspension pending investigation.”
“Currently, the party has no sitting President in office and therefore the actions taken by the Second Respondent are unconstitutional,” Siso states in the affidavit.
Siso further points to Article 12 of the CCC Constitution, which requires that no disciplinary proceedings against National Standing Committee members “shall be commenced without the approval of a two thirds majority of the National Council.”
He notes he has received no charge sheet or summons to any disciplinary hearing.
Article 6.4.2.1, Siso adds, puts removal powers in the National Council, not the Secretary General, of which “two thirds majority decision (is) made by a secret ballot of the National Council.”
Siso also argues he was denied the right to be heard.
“I was afforded no notice of any charges, no opportunity to respond to any allegations, and no hearing before the decision to ‘remove’ me was made and communicated,” the affidavit reads.
To accompany his application, Siso has attached several documents to support his case, which include:
the CCC Constitution, which Siso says clearly outlines removal procedures for senior officials;
various correspondence to State institutions including the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), the Minister of Local Government, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of Parliament, all designating Siso as an official CCC contact person;
an October 7, 2023 from the Interim National Council appointing Siso as Interim Treasurer General, co-signed by both Siso and Tshabangu;
Siso’s March 3, 2026 cease-and-desist letter to Tshabangu plus a letter to ZEC dated October 23, 2023 that lists Siso alongside Tshabangu and Jabulani Ncube as the only officials authorised to countersign nomination papers for CCC candidates.
In his draft order, Siso asks the High Court to declare his purported removal “null, void, and of no legal force or effect.”
He also wants the High Court to ceclare he remains the “duly appointed and constitutionally recognised Interim Treasurer General of the CCC.”
Siso said the High Court must interdict and restrain Tshabangu and “all persons claiming authority through him” from holding themselves out as the lawful leadership or from interfering with Siso’s duties.
Siso also wants the respondents to pay costs on a legal practitioner and client scale.
Siso asked the court to treat the matter as urgent, warning Tshabangu “may attempt to access Party funds, communicate with donors, or otherwise deal with Party assets” in a manner inconsistent with the Constitution and Siso’s custodianship.
“An urgent intervention by this Honourable Court is necessary to prevent further irreparable harm to the Party and its governance structures,” the application states.
Tshabangu has ten days from service of the notice to file an opposing affidavit.