Chinamasa to deal with Zanu-PF 'rebel' provinces

ZANU-PF secretary for legal affairs, who chairs the ruling party's national disciplinary committee (NDC) Patrick Chinamasa, has been appointed to resolve the impasse between national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and the two "rebellious provinces" - Midlands and Masvingo.

The fallout came after Midlands and Masvingo executives recently rubbished suspension letters issued to their members by Kasukuwere, saying the move was in violation of the party's constitution and will, therefore, not be honoured.

Party spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo yesterday said the matter involving the suspensions of Justice Mayor Wadyajena, Ezra Chadzamira, Brian Munyoro and Godwin Shiri for fanning factionalism and insulting senior party members was now in Chinamasa's hands.

"The said matter is now with the party's secretary for legal affairs, Cde Patrick Chinamasa, who is also chairman of the national disciplinary committee. Let the process take its course and refrain from indiscipline," Moyo said.

The four, all linked to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa's Team Lacoste faction, were suspended for allegedly fanning factionalism and discussing party issues on social media platforms.

This came amid reports that parallel structures had emerged in the two provinces following the alleged suspensions, threatening preparations for next month's extraordinary congress. The parallel structures are directly linked to the ruling party's two distinct factions – Team Lacoste and First Lady Grace Mugabe's G40.

"It's brutal and hectic. The campaigns are ongoing and include a fight to control chiefs as well as all traditional leaders," sources familiar with the goings-on told NewsDay.

Chadzamira yesterday said he was still Masvingo provincial chairman while secretary for security Amasa Nenjana argued he was acting party boss in the same province.

"Nothing has changed. I have not received any letter of suspension, but have only seen messages on social media. Nenjana is running a parallel structure," a defiant Chadzamira said.

But Nenjana hit back saying: "You will remember I was acting chairman when we hosted the President's birthday celebrations in February, so after the provincial elections I became Chadzamira's deputy. When he was suspended last week the national commissar called me informing the province that Chadzamira had been suspended. It was not an individual decision, but it was the politburo and that is where we take our command from. In informing me, the national commissar was effectively asking me to take over."

The Daniel Mackenzie Ncube-led Midlands executive has also dug in, describing the suspension of its two executives as a nullity.