This is the biography of Charlton Hwende, a Zimbabwean politician and former Secretary-General of the MDC-Alliance. He is now a member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), a political party that emerged from a split in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in 2022. He is also the Member of Parliament for Kuwadzana East, a constituency in Harare.
Early Life and Education
Charlton Hwende was born in Chegutu, a town in Mashonaland West Province. He attended Pfupajena Primary School and later moved to Harare for his secondary education. Hwende graduated from the University of Zimbabwe with a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Namibia.
Charlton Hwende Political Career and Activism
Hwende joined the MDC in 1999, shortly after its formation by Morgan Tsvangirai and other trade unionists and civil society activists. He rose through the ranks of the party and became the Deputy Treasurer-General in 2014. He was also the party’s Director of Information and Communication Technology.
In 2013, he contested and won the Chegutu West parliamentary seat, defeating Dexter Nduna of ZANU-PF. He served as the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services.
In 2018, he switched to the Kuwadzana East constituency, where he succeeded Nelson Chamisa, who had become the MDC Alliance presidential candidate. He won the seat, beating Shadreck Mashayamombe of ZANU-PF.
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In 2019, he was elected as the Secretary-General of the MDC Alliance at the party’s congress, beating Douglas Mwonzora. He became one of the key allies of Chamisa, who was challenging President Mnangagwa’s election victory in 2018.
However, in 2020, the Supreme Court ruled that Chamisa’s leadership of the MDC Alliance was illegitimate and ordered the party to revert to its 2014 structures, led by Thokozani Khupe. This resulted in a split in the party, with Khupe’s faction recalling several MDC Alliance MPs and councillors from parliament and local authorities.
Charlton Hwende Biography [Image: @hwendec/X]
In 2022, Hwende and other MDC Alliance leaders announced the formation of a new political party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
Hwende contested and retained his Kuwadzana East seat in a 2022 by-election after being recalled by Khupe’s faction. In 2023, he won the election in Kuadzana East and also became the chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Public Accounts.
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Charlton Hwende Arrests and Charges
Charlton Hwende has faced several arrests and charges for his involvement in anti-government protests and activities. In 2016, he was accused of inciting violence during the #ThisFlag campaign, led by Pastor Evan Mawarire, which called for social and economic reforms in Zimbabwe. He was later acquitted by the court.
In 2019, he was arrested at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport upon his arrival from Namibia, where he had been receiving medical treatment. He was charged with treason for allegedly inciting the January 2019 violent protests, which were sparked by a fuel price hike and resulted in the deaths of at least 17 people. He was granted bail by the High Court after spending three days in custody.
In 2020, he was arrested again for allegedly participating in an illegal demonstration against corruption and human rights abuses in Zimbabwe. He was released on bail after spending two weeks in remand prison.
Personal Life
Charlton Hwende Biography [Image: @hwendec/X]
Charlton Hwende is married and has two children. He is a Christian and a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He is also an avid soccer fan and supports the English club Arsenal.
References
- Hwende urges Parliament to adjourn until accommodation is provided for MPs – Zimbabwe Mail
- Nelson Chamisa retains leadership of Zimbabwe’s opposition MDC Alliance – TimesLIVE
- Zimbabwe Police Arrest Another MDC MP Amid Intensifying Crackdown on Govt Opponents -VOA
- 4 MDC legislators recalled from Parliament – The Herald
