Zvobgo's son faces ouster

Despite coming to the rescue of Zanu-PF party at a time it had rental woes and had been evicted from offices it leased last year, the son of the late liberation war hero, Edison Zvobgo, has learnt the hard way that one good turn does not necessarily deserve another.

Edison Zvobgo Junior is facing ouster from the Zanu-PF provincial executive for being seconded and later voted to the post of legal affairs secretary without following procedure. Also in the firing line is prominent Masvingo lawyer, Rodney Saratoga Makausi. Makausi is targeted by Zanu-PF hawks for being voted into the provincial executive, in the youth league.

Zanu-PF national political commissar, Webster Shamu, chaired a stormy meeting at the Chiefs' Hall  about a fortnight ago where members of the warring factions - Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa's faction and Vice President Joice Mujuru's faction - almost came close to blows, accusing each other of imposing members in leadership positions.

Sources said Zvobgo, who twice failed in his bid to be a Masvingo Central legislator, and Makausi, who owns a law firm, are under investigations focussing on how they landed their positions when they were not part of a pool of candidates chosen to contest.

"Shamu came and factions started trading accusations of candidate imposition. The Mnangagwa faction said all the provincial elections were stolen by the  Mujuru faction. The argument was later narrowed down to the positions of Zvobgo and Makausi.

"Shamu called for a probe into how Zvobgo and Makausi were elected. If there are any irregularities, they will be reduced to ordinary card carrying members," said a source who attended the meeting.

While Shamu could not be reached for comment, Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial secretary for information, Josiah Dunira, confirmed the probe, but insisted Zvobgo has not been booted out as yet since these are still allegations.

"Of course, such allegations were raised and they are to be verified. He has not been ousted yet until results of the findings speak for themselves," Dunira said.

Masvingo provincial executive elections were marred by violence with a faction linked to Mnangagwa accusing the Mujuru faction of vote rigging.

Ailess Baloyi, who lost the elections to retired brigadier general  Killian Gwanetsa, called for the annulment of the provincial election results and a re-run of the poll due to allegations of electoral fraud and flagrant violation of voting guidelines. The provinces are crucial in determining who will succeed President Robert Mugabe if he retires.