Drama as Zanu-PF's Matiza is booted out

A section of the Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial executive members has passed a vote of no confidence in provincial chairperson Joel Biggie Matiza and other executive members.

Matiza, however, says whatever decision the executive members took is null and void.

The drama in the Mashonaland East provincial executive started late Friday night when vice chairperson Bernard Makokova led some members of the executive in announcing the vote of no confidence in Matiza, political commissar Hebert Shumbamhini, secretary for security Tendayi Mangwiro and secretary for legal affairs Kudzima Juru.

Also on the suspension list are women's league chairperson Apolonia Munzverengwi and her deputy Lyn Gororo as well as youth league chairperson Kelvin Mutsvairo.

However, this Saturday Matiza held a media conference at the party's offices which was attended by other members of the provincial executive, including those who had earlier been booted out.

The meeting passed a vote of confidence in the leadership of Matiza and resolved to suspend other provincial members they felt had a hand in the bid to ouster the chairman.

The members suspended are Makokova, secretary for administration Lawrence Katsiru, his deputy Cainos Ngoshi, secretary for the disabled Malvern Matimura and secretary for gender Godfrey Chikono.

Also suspended are women's league members Beatrice Nyamupinga, Petronella Kagonye, Patricia Vito and Miriam Muchineripi as well as youth league members Joel Zhanda and Rodgers Pote.

The drama spilled into Manicaland province where Mashonaland East is conducting a restructuring exercise as Makokova who declared himself acting chairperson is now leading a delegation to conduct the programme.

Matiza and his delegation say they do not recognise the Makokova led team.