Dear Mount Pleasant voters,
Resignation from Parliament
First of all, I want to thank you. I don’t take your trust in me for granted. Indeed, it has been the honor of my life to represent you. This is not the end for us, but the beginning of a different journey.
One of my first promises to you was to always be honest, transparent and responsible in my decisions. In this spirit, I would like to present the reasons that prompted me to leave the Citizens’ Coalition for Change and resign from Parliament with immediate effect.
When the CCC was launched in January of 2022, it was with a shared understanding that this new movement would be grounded in the core value of citizen-centredness. It would put the well-being and aspirations of voters like you at the heart of all decision-making. Our goal was to build a new Zimbabwe that provided dignity, prosperity and opportunity for all.
We agreed to run under the leadership of President Nelson Chamisa as we seek to introduce a new way of doing politics. Central to this goal was the belief that we would put the people first.
In the wake of the blatant electoral fraud we witnessed in August 2023, we made the difficult decision to represent these hard-won districts in an effort to advance the democratic process on multiple fronts.
Despite many odds, we have fought hard to respond to unfair and anti-people statements such as Budget 2024, the fees crisis in higher education, the energy crisis, the collapsing economy, and the imposition of candidates after a series of fraudulent withdrawals.
Despite our focus on the battle of ideas and politics, the regime has chosen the low road of an unconstitutional attack on the will of the people. They used dark substitutes and actors like Mr. Chabangu, who I don’t know and have never met. Their goal is to force the two-thirds majority they failed to obtain in August 2023 despite unprecedented electoral malpractices that have left the region, and indeed the world, in shock.
We have witnessed widespread abuse of state institutions that have effectively handed over all levers of control over the CCC to this fraudster.
The assault on the will of the people, the tainted state of Parliament, coupled with various violations of parliamentary privilege, illegal comments, and President Nelson Chamisa’s decision to dissociate himself from the captured CCC, have made it untenable for me to continue in my role. As a Member of Parliament for Mount Pleasant constituency under the CCC banner.
You have chosen me to represent you on a platform of values ​​that are no longer at the heart of the CCC. I cannot remain a representative of a party whose leadership I do not know and whose motives and values ​​remain ambiguous. I will be failing you if you hold a position that will not serve the best interests of our community.
The CCC I joined is not the CCC we have left today. I cannot in good conscience side with individuals who have caused unimaginable harm to the people by allying themselves with a corrupt dictatorship.
Nor can I partner with people who want to undo the will of the people and hand over seats that citizens have stood in line for hours to vote on just to score cheap political points. This is not who I am or who I aspire to be.
The struggle for a democratic society should never be sacrificed on the altar of expediency. I remain committed to the cause of a better Zimbabwe. This is not the end, just a line in the sand.
As always, I will remain an advocate for the many issues important to our diverse community. I will remain at your disposal as we collectively navigate this uncertain phase that lies ahead. Together, we will conquer Zimbabwe for change.
To give this decision legal effect, I will submit formal notice of resignation to the Speaker of Parliament in line with section 129 (1) (b) of the Constitution early next week when Parliament reopens.
Forever in hope,
Fadzai Meher writes on X
