informing the speaker that, “any correspondence regarding any CCC Member of Parliament listed
was to be directed to his office”. Chamisa alleged that the lawmakers' removal was part of an
attempt by the ruling Zanu PF party “to silence us." In a twist of events, on October 12 2023
Mudenda received a letter from Tafadzwa Manyika who claimed to be the Zanu PF's interim
secretary-general advising him that 70 legislators had ceased to be ruling party members. The
developments triggered an outcry on social media as citizens expressed mixed feelings with some
sternly calling for the recall of Zanu PF legislators too. In a statement, former Norton legislator,
Temba Mliswa, stated, “Let’s leave the Speaker out of it,” emphasising that Jacob Mudenda, the
Speaker of Parliament, has no choice but to remove MPs aligned with President Emmerson
Mnangagwa. The political crisis signalled a significant shift in Zimbabwe’s political landscape as
President Mnangagwa announced December 9 as the date for the by-elections. CCC approached
the courts to challenge the recalls.