Zanu-PF guns at Kasukuwere

The Zanu-PF Harare Provincial Executive Council yesterday passed a no-confidence on National Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and provincial commissar Shadreck Mashayamombe in a day of high drama that witnessed skirmishes at the ruling party's provincial headquarters.

The Sunday Mail understands police briefly detained Mashayamombe for allegedly instigating the disturbances.

Yesterday, 28 Harare PEC members appended their signatures to a petition calling for the dismissal of the pair over a raft of allegations, including plotting to topple President Mugabe and insulting First Lady and Women's League Secretary Amai Grace Mugabe.

Zanu-PF's Constitution says a motion of no-confidence can be passed by a simple majority of an organ's members.

The PEC has 50 members.

The Harare petition will be transmitted to Zanu-PF's national leadership in keeping with the party's disciplinary code.

Harare becomes the fifth province to call for Kasukuwere's sacking, joining Mashonaland Central, Bulawayo, Midlands and Masvingo.

The Zimbabwe Congress of Student Unions has also asked Zanu-PF Secretary for Administration Dr Ignatius Chombo to transmit to President Mugabe their own petition calling for Kasukuwere's ouster for meddling in their affairs at institutions of higher learning.

Yesterday evening, Zanu-PF Harare provincial chair Charles Tavengwa said he was unaware of the petitions.

"I am not aware of anything of that nature. I haven't attended any meeting with that issue on the agenda. I only heard that there were people who had gathered at the party offices and police were later called to disperse them."

Mashayamombe would not go down without a fight yesterday and led a group of youths to lay siege on the party's provincial HQ on Simon Muzenda Street.

The mob hurled stones at people at the premises as well as at by-standers, leading to a tempowrary closure of the offices and anti-riot police being called in.

Police kept watch throughout the day as the mob milled around.

National police spokespersons Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba and Chief Superintendent Paul Nyathi could not be reached to comment on the skirmishes and Mashayamombe's reported arrest.

Announcing the no-confidence vote, provincial secretary for administration George Mashavave said the petition was in accordance with Article 29 (Section 251) of Zanu-PF's constitution.

He was flanked by Tafirenyika Nerwande (secretary for security), Dumisani Chipango (treasurer), Moffat Siwizani (secretary for economic affairs), Forward Mazviterera (secretary for transport and welfare), and Shupikayi Nyakawo (deputy secretary for security).

Part of the petition reads: "We, the undersigned members of the Zanu-PF Harare Provincial Executive Council do hereby and irrevocably resolve as follows:

"That in terms of Article 29 (Section 251) of the party's constitution, we do hereby cast a vote of no confidence on the National Political Commissar S Kasukuwere and provincial commissar Mashayamombe. This petition is an expression of our vote of no confidence against the two when it comes to demonstrating honesty integrity and respect for the fundamental values of the party. We believe that they have failed to respect and uphold the party's principles and values and constitution.

"(1) Kasukuwere and Mashayamombe have been planning and preparing to topple the elected President, His Excellency, President Mugabe, by putting in place party structures that will ensure that their goal is achieved.

"(2) They have been fanning factionalism, running parallel structures and creating divisions in the party by victimising everyone they suspect to be a threat to their mission.

"(3) They have been promoting tribalism. (4) Their leadership has been characterised by dictatorship, as anyone of contrary opinion would be victimised. (5) They have been disrespectful of the party leadership.

"(6) Mashayamombe insulted the First Lady in the media, which prompted our only First Lady to demand an apology from him.

"The two disrespected the party constitution by imposing candidates wherever there was a primary election; eg the Norton saga. The two have put the party and the province in disrepute."

Mashayamombe told The Sunday Mail he was unaware of the petition, and blamed former Harare provincial youth chairperson Mr Godwin Gomwe for the violence.

"I am not aware of the petition. I do not know anything about the violence you are talking about either. You should ask Gomwe; he is the one who, I was told, was planning to unleash violence."

On the other hand, the Zicosu petition alleges that Kasukuwere was victimising student leaders for refusing to be "co-opted into his faction".

The petition reads, "We condemn the activities of one Saviour Kasukuwere who happens to be the party Political Commissar who we believe is hell-bent on leading Zanu-PF to a disastrous defeat in 2018 by his unpatriotic and reactionary activities.

"Our resistance has resulted in many threats, including physical ones and even attempted bribery on some of our membership. All these failed to bear fruition and this led to the unfair dismissal of many youth activists in our organisation from Zanu-PF."