Fresh storm rocks Zanu-PF women's league

Mashonaland East Zanu-PF provincial chairperson, Bernard Makokove, was last weekend reportedly imposed as the province's boss, sparking war of words, fresh details have emerged.

Makokove was confirmed as the substantive chairperson at a provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) meeting held in Marondera last Saturday to replace Joel Biggie Matiza, who was relieved of the position last year.

But fresh details emerging show that party structures, especially the women's league, were whipped into endorsing Makokove without being afforded an opportunity to debate the matter.

Those who demanded that the party open up a democratic process by making decisions after members had been given room to input were allegedly now targets for victimisation.

One of the party members, Charity Manyeruke, has been hauled before the party's disciplinary hearing after she challenged the women's league provincial chairperson, Biata Nyamupinga, over the decision to impose Makokove.

In a letter dated February 7 signed by Makokove, Manyeruke is supposed to appear before the provincial disciplinary committee on March 4 to answer to charges that include insubordination.

The letter also claims Manyeruke said the party had used un-procedural votes of no confidence to fire "innocent members", thereby, contravening articles of the Zanu-PF constitution.

The letter was signed by Makokove on behalf of the deputy secretary for administration for the province.

But in a letter to the secretary of women affairs and First Lady Grace Mugabe dated February 5, Manyeruke said Nyamupinga called the women's league before the PCC meeting and told them that she had decided on the women's behalf that they confirm Makokove and it was not subject to debate.

Manyeruke then told her that lack of democratic space for party members was destroying the party, apart from un-procedural votes of no confidence, according to what emerged from the hearing that the party women's league had fired members.

She also complained against being railroaded to produce, within hours, a workplan that would guide the women for the whole year as had been demanded by Nyamupinga.

She accused Nyamupinga of co-opting some women into the provincial structures without the knowledge of the executive.

In another letter, Manyeruke said the letter she had received exposed a conspiracy against her, adding the charges were unfounded.

"I also think that it will be unprocedural for me to attend the hearing since the women's league issues are handled by that wing, at least here I am guided by precedent. I am also very clear that the women's league has not laid any charges against me," she said.

"I am, therefore, presenting to your high and esteemed office the unfortunate circumstances I found myself in and un-procedural position taken against me as a result of laying bare the root of the problems bedevilling the provincial women's league leadership."

The letters were copied to party secretary for administration, Ignatius Chombo, and national commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, among many others.

Asked for comment, Manyeruke said she would not discuss party issues in newspapers.

"Who gave you the story? Anyway, Zanu-PF has internal structures and has ways of resolving internal disputes, not through newspapers," she said.

Makokove and Nyamupinga were unreachable for comment yesterday.