Zimbabweans in Turmoil as Bizarre By-Elections Begin

Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), is facing a bizarre situation ahead of by-elections, as 21 of its lawmakers were recalled and barred from participating. The recalls, allegedly orchestrated by the ruling party ZANU-PF, are seen as an attempt to consolidate power and tilt the balance in favor of ZANU-PF, potentially allowing President Emmerson Mnangagwa to push for constitutional amendments. The opposition claims that the recalls undermine the will of the people and erode multiparty democracy, while analysts suggest that the opposition should have boycotted the by-elections from the beginning.