News / National
Zanu-PF officials clash in front of Mugabe
05 Apr 2012 at 11:13hrs | Views
The race to succeed ailing Vice President John Nkomo between Zanu-PF chairman Simon Khaya-Moyo and Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu recently took a nasty twist when the two were involved in a bitter exchange of words at last Thursday's politburo meeting in Harare.
Party insiders said Moyo was the first to attack Mpofu, accusing him of causing problems by trying to impose candidates and randomly changing provincial leadership without consulting other party members.
The spat between the two political heavy weights from Matabeleland was a result of a simmering war that started last year when Moyo suspended Matabeleland North acting chairperson Zwelitsha Masuku considered a close ally of Mpofu. This Moyo, sources say, did to frustrate Mpofu's influence within party structures.
"Mpofu did not respond kindly to Moyo's accusations and hit back at the chairman saying he had failed to win elections over the past 11 years. Mpofu went on to accused Moyo of influencing state media to tarnish his image and Moyo countered with similar accusations," said a source.
The drama unfolded in full view of President Robert Mugabe who is said to have been stunned by the politicians' exchange of words.
"The President (Mugabe) and the rest of the politburo was stunned by the two's argument. For a while, they were allowed to go at each other before the President called for calm and urged Moyo and Mpofu to work together in boosting the party's waning support in Matabeleland ahead of the next elections which threaten the existence of the party," said the source.
Meanwhile, Nkomo reportedly did not attend last Thursday's meeting sparking fresh speculation that the Vice President who is a cancer patient might not be feeling well.
Party insiders said Moyo was the first to attack Mpofu, accusing him of causing problems by trying to impose candidates and randomly changing provincial leadership without consulting other party members.
The spat between the two political heavy weights from Matabeleland was a result of a simmering war that started last year when Moyo suspended Matabeleland North acting chairperson Zwelitsha Masuku considered a close ally of Mpofu. This Moyo, sources say, did to frustrate Mpofu's influence within party structures.
"Mpofu did not respond kindly to Moyo's accusations and hit back at the chairman saying he had failed to win elections over the past 11 years. Mpofu went on to accused Moyo of influencing state media to tarnish his image and Moyo countered with similar accusations," said a source.
The drama unfolded in full view of President Robert Mugabe who is said to have been stunned by the politicians' exchange of words.
"The President (Mugabe) and the rest of the politburo was stunned by the two's argument. For a while, they were allowed to go at each other before the President called for calm and urged Moyo and Mpofu to work together in boosting the party's waning support in Matabeleland ahead of the next elections which threaten the existence of the party," said the source.
Meanwhile, Nkomo reportedly did not attend last Thursday's meeting sparking fresh speculation that the Vice President who is a cancer patient might not be feeling well.
Source - Byo24News
