Chaos dominates anti-Kasukuwere petition

CHAOS reigned supreme in Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central provincial structures over the fight to have national political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, fired, with the ruling party's Midlands executive joining the fray.

Kasukuwere, regarded a leading figure in a ruling party faction known as G40, has been under the cosh over allegations he has been setting up parallel party structures in preparation for unseating President Robert Mugabe. But his lieutenants seem to be fighting back, especially in his home province.

Mashonaland Central provincial spokesperson, Fredrick Nhaka, all but confirmed the chaos.

"They tried to hold a joint meeting of all structures, not a PEC (provincial executive committee), but failed to raise a quorum. However, they went ahead with the meeting attended by largely youths.

"They were 57 of them out of 120 members at 40 from each wing. For us, it is a continuation of the G40 agenda to usurp the party and, in particular, the presidency. They are now operating like the opposition," Nhaka said.

"We have given them final warnings, but we know, for them there is no turning back. They tried to hold an inter-district meeting in Mbire, but were stopped by the police. However, they defied police orders at Mushumbi Pools."

Contacted for comment, Kasukuwere's brother and under-fire Mashonaland Central provincial chairman, Dickson Mafios, said he was in a meeting, with Zanu-PF slogans being chanted audibly in the background.

Insiders told NewsDay yesterday that a number of provinces, which were yet to deliberate on the motion, were likely to meet in the coming days.

"There has been communication from the top ordering provincial executive committees to meet and endorse the petition," a source said.
Midlands Zanu-PF provincial spokesperson, Cornelius Mupereri, confirmed that the provincial executive would be meeting.

"It is true, I have just been advised by the chairperson (Daniel Mackenzie-Ncube) that there will be a provincial executive meeting tomorrow (today) to discuss issues affecting the province. I am not certain about the agenda as yet," he said.

"The issue of the petition is only a small fraction of the business that the provincial leadership might discuss. There are bigger issues we would be seized with, but I am not saying we will not attend to such things."

Mashonaland West provincial chairperson, Ephraim Chengeta, denied his executive would be meeting.

"I am at the National Heroes' Acre and I have not been told of any such meeting, not for now," he said.

In Matabeleland South, chairperson, Rapelang Choene, dismissed claims his executive would sit to consider the anti-Kasukuwere petition.

The reports of a fresh impetus in the campaign against a beleaguered Kasukuwere come as Mafios insisted he was still in charge of Mashonaland Central.