{"id":1942,"date":"2026-02-19T12:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T12:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=1942"},"modified":"2026-02-19T12:58:11","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T12:58:11","slug":"tshabangu-targets-journalist-over-geneva-speech","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?p=1942","title":{"rendered":"Tshabangu targets journalist over Geneva speech"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

by MELUSI MHLANGA<\/em>
BULAWAYO – SENATOR Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-declared secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has ignited fresh controversy after threatening to push for the cancellation of journalist Blessed Mhlanga\u2019s passport over remarks made in Geneva on press freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mhlanga recently addressed delegates at the Geneva Summit, where he spoke about media freedoms, the rule of law and democratic conditions in Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His speech drew sharp criticism from Tshabangu, who publicly declared: \u201cI listened to @bbmhlanga speaking at the Geneva Summit, and I was deeply moved by his remarks. As an opposition politician and a Senator in the Parliament of Zimbabwe, I will raise a motion in the Senate urging the Government to cancel his passport. Patriotism must be upheld.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mhlanga rejected claims that he had addressed only Western audiences, responding: \u201cFor the record I did not just address the west, I addressed you, my government and the entire world. Zimbabwe\u2019s diplomatic relations are not limited to the West. Please take note.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The dispute has revived scrutiny of Tshabangu\u2019s controversial political trajectory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2023, he unilaterally recalled dozens of CCC Members of Parliament and councillors, triggering by-elections that significantly reduced the opposition\u2019s parliamentary strength.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recalls reshaped the balance of power in Parliament, benefiting the ruling ZANU-PF party by weakening its main challenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics argue that Tshabangu\u2019s actions fractured the opposition at a critical moment, undermining voter representation and consolidating ZANU-PF\u2019s legislative dominance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tshabangu\u2019s legitimacy within the CCC has been widely contested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senior party figures have repeatedly distanced themselves from him, describing his recalls as unlawful and accusing him of acting without constitutional authority.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His moves were seen by many analysts as having effectively destabilised the opposition from within, leading to accusations that he had aided ZANU-PF\u2019s parliamentary agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The passport threat has further inflamed public debate. Social media users openly questioned Tshabangu\u2019s opposition credentials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dulani Maxwell wrote: \u201cPoint of correction, you (Tshabangu) aren’t opposition. Secondly Mhlanga is a Zimbabwean citizen who should enjoy freedom of speech and association. The very same way we let you hijack the people’s struggle (CCC) and sold it for 10 pieces of silver.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tsono Tabhoga added: \u201cBlind loyalty to a leader is not Patriotism. Patriotism is a devotion to one country, fighting for principles like justice and freedom. Blessed narrated his ordeal, his experience and what is happening now,\u201d while Wilbert Kranos remarked: \u201cUnless the word opposition has a different meaning. You are more than ZANU-PF itself.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicholas Gova commented: \u201cThe unelected ZANU-PF Chabangu you are about to prove him (Mhlanga) correct as usual,\u201d and Brian Teputepu questioned: \u201cOpposition politician??? you sir? Listen to even what you are proposing\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The episode underscores intensifying tensions over free expression in Zimbabwe and deepening divisions within the opposition, as debate continues over patriotism, accountability and democratic space.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by MELUSI MHLANGABULAWAYO – SENATOR Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-declared secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has ignited fresh controversy after threatening to push for the cancellation of journalist Blessed Mhlanga\u2019s passport over remarks made in Geneva on press freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe. Mhlanga recently addressed delegates at the Geneva Summit, where he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1885,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5,8,44,11,45,3],"tags":[381],"class_list":["post-1942","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-editors-pick","category-featured","category-hot-topics","category-local","category-must-read","category-national","category-news","tag-senator-sengezo-tshabangu"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sengezo-Tshabangu-1-150x150.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sengezo-Tshabangu-1-300x210.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sengezo-Tshabangu-1-768x538.jpg","large":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sengezo-Tshabangu-1.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sengezo-Tshabangu-1.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sengezo-Tshabangu-1.jpg","post-thumbnail":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sengezo-Tshabangu-1.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"administrator","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d5ebfe727f13fb325bd400aaaf5e789d3e2e20898883d9ae8e3d3d42d58cef?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"by MELUSI MHLANGABULAWAYO – SENATOR Sengezo Tshabangu, the self-declared secretary-general of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has ignited fresh controversy after threatening to push for the cancellation of journalist Blessed Mhlanga\u2019s passport over remarks made in Geneva on press freedom and democracy in Zimbabwe. Mhlanga recently addressed delegates at the Geneva Summit, where he […]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["Editor's Pick","Featured","Hot Topics","Local","Must Read","National","News"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":48,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sengezo-Tshabangu-1.jpg",900,631,false],"medium":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sengezo-Tshabangu-1-300x210.jpg",300,210,true],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Sengezo-Tshabangu-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"administrator","author_link":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/?author=2"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a3d5ebfe727f13fb325bd400aaaf5e789d3e2e20898883d9ae8e3d3d42d58cef?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"Editor's Pick<\/a> Featured<\/a> Hot Topics<\/a> Local<\/a> Must Read<\/a> National<\/a> News<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1942","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1942"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1942\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1943,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1942\/revisions\/1943"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1942"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1942"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/matabeletoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1942"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}