News / National
Zanu-PF factions fight over chairmanship
11 Oct 2013 at 03:51hrs | Views
The battle between Zanu-PF's two main rival camps will once again rear its ugly head in the upcoming elections to choose a new executive for Manicaland Province.
Webster Shamu, the party's political commissar, announced recently that elections to choose a new executive would be held before the first week of November.
Provincial chairpersons in the main board, women and youth leagues would be elected through a secret ballot.
Caucusing has already started amid indications that the two main camps aligned to Vice President Joice Mujuru and party secretary for legal affairs Emmerson Mnangagwa would once again resume their rivalry.
Both camps are fighting to control Zanu-PF's structures in readiness for the political gamesmanship that might follow should President Robert Mugabe decide to exit politics.
Inside sources have indicated that former Mutare South legislator Fred Kanzama has thrown his hat into the ring and is eyeing the provincial chairmanship.
Kanzama, who could not be reached for comment, is a close ally of national secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, who has publicly declared his allegiance to Mujuru.
According to sources, the Mujuru faction cannot afford to lose this tug of war having suffered a major setback during the party's primaries in which the Mnangagwa camp enjoyed an upper hand.
Mutasa, regarded as the godfather of politics in the eastern border province, is expected to use his influence to swing the pendulum in favour of the Mujuru camp.
The province is currently chaired in an acting capacity by Zimbabwe's ambassador to Cuba, John Mvundura, who is deputised by Retired Lieutenant General Mike Nyambuya.
This followed the sacking of the previous executive led by Mike Madiro and deputised by Dorothy Mabika on allegations that they extorted money from companies mining diamonds in Chiadzwa.
Madiro and Mabika were later to face stock theft charges, which were dismissed by the courts.
Webster Shamu, the party's political commissar, announced recently that elections to choose a new executive would be held before the first week of November.
Provincial chairpersons in the main board, women and youth leagues would be elected through a secret ballot.
Caucusing has already started amid indications that the two main camps aligned to Vice President Joice Mujuru and party secretary for legal affairs Emmerson Mnangagwa would once again resume their rivalry.
Both camps are fighting to control Zanu-PF's structures in readiness for the political gamesmanship that might follow should President Robert Mugabe decide to exit politics.
Inside sources have indicated that former Mutare South legislator Fred Kanzama has thrown his hat into the ring and is eyeing the provincial chairmanship.
Kanzama, who could not be reached for comment, is a close ally of national secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa, who has publicly declared his allegiance to Mujuru.
According to sources, the Mujuru faction cannot afford to lose this tug of war having suffered a major setback during the party's primaries in which the Mnangagwa camp enjoyed an upper hand.
Mutasa, regarded as the godfather of politics in the eastern border province, is expected to use his influence to swing the pendulum in favour of the Mujuru camp.
The province is currently chaired in an acting capacity by Zimbabwe's ambassador to Cuba, John Mvundura, who is deputised by Retired Lieutenant General Mike Nyambuya.
This followed the sacking of the previous executive led by Mike Madiro and deputised by Dorothy Mabika on allegations that they extorted money from companies mining diamonds in Chiadzwa.
Madiro and Mabika were later to face stock theft charges, which were dismissed by the courts.
Source - fingaz
