Zanu-PF Politburo meets

THE 308th Ordinary Session of the Zanu-PF Politburo meets in Harare today for high level talks that are expected to focus on issues affecting the revolutionary party and the nation at large.

The Central Committee, which is the revolutionary party's highest decision making body outside Congress, will also have its 105th meeting on Friday.

The meetings come on the back of nationwide demonstrations against high-ranking party officials among them deputy secretary for Women's Affairs Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, Women's League treasurer Sarah Mahoka, National Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and his half-brother Dickson Mafios who all face a litany of allegations from party supporters.

As such expectations are high that the revolutionary party will deal with all pertinent issues.

Zanu-PF secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo, yesterday confirmed the two meetings saying the agenda will be unveiled before the meetings start. "There are no changes and we are going to have those routine meetings as scheduled, beginning with the Politburo meeting tomorrow," he said. "As usual the meetings will take place at the Zanu-PF headquarters and members are expected to be seated by 1000hrs. Critical issues affecting the party and national development will be discussed during the meetings. Agendas will be availed on the day of the meeting."

Both meetings will be chaired by President Mugabe, who is the Zanu-PF First Secretary and President.

Sources said the Politburo was likely to discuss the issues pertaining to Cdes Moyo and Mahoka, who were last week expelled by the Women's League pending a Politburo determination.

The Women's League national executive resolved to expel the pair for undermining the authority of the First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe. Dr Mugabe is the secretary for Women Affairs.

Cdes Moyo and Mahoka, who last week saw countrywide demonstrations being held against them, are also accused of corruption, insubordination and fanning factionalism.

Mahoka faces a further charge of denigrating President Mugabe's appointees. "While the Women's League referred the case of these two senior members to the party's disciplinary committee, the issue will obviously be discussed in the Politburo meeting," said a source. "There were countrywide demonstrations and the Politburo cannot afford to ignore such an issue which affects the party. If the necessary processes have been done then their fate can be sealed as early as tomorrow (today)."

On the other hand, Cdes Kasukuwere and Mafios, could also to be under the spotlight amid growing calls for their removal from office. The Mashonaland Central executive met yesterday and endorsed the petition handed over during Monday's demonstration calling for the immediate resignation or expulsion of Cdes Kasukuwere and Mafios.

The two are accused of plotting to topple President Mugabe.

The province staged a demonstration on Monday against the two saying their untoward behaviour threatened Zanu-PF's victory in next year's elections.

Zanu-PF Midlands province also held a similar demonstration saying it was fed up with Kasukuwere's leadership style.

Said a source: "Again the party leadership cannot afford to ignore the demonstrations because here we are talking of a man who is central in the mobilisation of party members and we are headed for elections. The question is can a man who has been rejected by his home province face them again and be able to lure more cadres to the party?"

Kasukuwere, together with his side-kick Shadreck Mashayamombe (Harare provincial commissar), also invited the wrath of the Women's League after they allegedly attempted to block their demonstrations against Mahoka and Moyo.