News / Local
Chiyangwa divides Zanu-PF
11 Feb 2014 at 06:44hrs | Views
ZANU-PF Bulawayo Central district members on Saturday walked out of a meeting in protest at the leadership's directive that under fire chairperson Joe Chiyangwa was free to stand in coming elections despite calls to bar him.
The district is divided between Chiyangwa backers and those of his rival Caleb Sengu.
Sources said the meeting held at the party's provincial head office, Davis Hall, had been called to patch up differences between the warring factions ahead of fresh elections for the chairmanship.
The elections are scheduled for Sunday.
"There was a call for Chiyangwa, who was recently badly assaulted by unknown assailants, not to stand after being fingered in several corruption cases.
"Even some party members from his camp supported the call," said a source who attended the meeting.
"However, the announcement by (secretary for the commissariat Canaan) Ncube (that Chiyangwa is free to stand) angered several members who displayed their displeasure. They said Chiyangwa should not be allowed to contest and giving him the green light was sending a wrong message.
"We are preparing for the 2018 (elections) and there are people who are not party members who will ask why join a party that has corrupt leaders. So a large group walked out of the meeting in protest," the source said.
The district is divided between Chiyangwa backers and those of his rival Caleb Sengu.
Sources said the meeting held at the party's provincial head office, Davis Hall, had been called to patch up differences between the warring factions ahead of fresh elections for the chairmanship.
The elections are scheduled for Sunday.
"There was a call for Chiyangwa, who was recently badly assaulted by unknown assailants, not to stand after being fingered in several corruption cases.
"Even some party members from his camp supported the call," said a source who attended the meeting.
"However, the announcement by (secretary for the commissariat Canaan) Ncube (that Chiyangwa is free to stand) angered several members who displayed their displeasure. They said Chiyangwa should not be allowed to contest and giving him the green light was sending a wrong message.
"We are preparing for the 2018 (elections) and there are people who are not party members who will ask why join a party that has corrupt leaders. So a large group walked out of the meeting in protest," the source said.
Source - Southern Eye
