Zanu-PF in disarray in Bulawayo as top officials fight

BULAWAYO - Zanu-PF is in disarray in Bulawayo where top party officials are at each other's throats.

So intense is the factionalism that the Zanu-PF politburo on Wednesday tasked party chairperson Simon Khaya-Moyo and political commissar Webster Shamu to deal with the infighting that resulted in violence early this week.

Police had to be called after violence broke out at the Zanu-PF provincial headquarters on Monday as party youths evicted suspended chairperson, Isaac Dakamela, from office before grabbing his official vehicle.

Dakamela had been suspended from the position on Saturday by the Bulawayo province coordinating committee on allegations of being stubborn, arrogant and defying party orders. Vice chairperson Killian Sibanda was appointed acting chairperson.

The youths grabbed the party's Toyota Hilux vehicle used by Dakamela. More clashes erupted at Zanu-PF offices at Davies Hall along 6th Avenue Extension as some party activists aligned to Dakamela retaliated and tried to protect him.

Police were forced to intervene to control the situation.

Dakamela accused Sibanda of trying to destroy Zanu-PF in Bulawayo.

Contacted for comment, Sibanda only said: "Dakamela is no longer the chairperson."

Dakamela appears to have suffered for his opposition to illegal takeovers of buildings owned by foreigners in the city.

Since June last year, Zanu-PF youths in Bulawayo have been seizing buildings located in the central business district owned by Indian and Italian families.

Dakamela on numerous occasions has voiced concern at the takeovers of city buildings.

The youths accuse him of being a stumbling block to President Robert Mugabe's black empowerment programme.