Fresh turmoil emerges in Mujuru's ZimPF

FRESH turmoil is looming in Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) Bulawayo structures with reports of a plot to push deputy coordinator Mr Albert Mhlanga out of party structures.

According to sources within the Dr Joice Mujuru-led party, a faction linked to provincial coordinator Ms Esnath Bulayani wants Mr Mhlanga charged for making comments in the media in contrast to the position of the province.

However, insiders said the plot is part of broader factional fights within the party as Ms Bulayani tries to position herself for the party's vice presidency.

Mr Mhlanga said he was not aware of the plot to oust him but said if ever there was a hearing he was ready for it.

"I was away in school so I'm not aware of anything. But if there is such an issue, I am ready to hear it. I am senior enough to comment on issues to do with the province so I really see no issue," he said.

However, sources said Ms Bulayani and her crew complained to the leaders about comments made by Mr Mhlanga to the media following the defection of Mr Phineas Ndlovu to MDC-T last month.

Mr Ndlovu, a former MDC-T councillor for Ward 14 left ZimPF last December citing irreconcilable differences.

However, after the defection Ms Bulayani and her allies reportedly maintained that the party had no relations with Mr Ndlovu.

"Mhlanga's crime was to confirm that PZ Ndlovu was a member of ZimPF which a faction linked to Bulayani protested as contradicting the party stance. They then advocated that he be hauled before a hearing and expelled from the party," said a source.

"However, the Mhlanga case is just a smoke screen as there is an agenda to weed out all perceived threats to Bulayani's interests to the vice presidency. She has fallen out with most senior members from the region as she tries to prove to Mujuru that she is worthy of the position."

Cracks within the Dr Mujuru led party continue to widen with recent reports that Ms Bulayani had gone against the "agreed" candidature of Mr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo for the vice presidency and went on to throw her name into the race. Efforts to get a comment from Ms Bulayani yesterday were fruitless.

However, ZimPF spokesperson Mr Methuseli Moyo said, "There is absolutely no truth, none whatsoever in that. There is no planned action against Mr Mhlanga or anyone.  There is no tiff between Mr Mhlanga and Ms Bulayani. Your sources are just being mischievous."