News / National
Mujuru factions victorious at Zanu-PF youth conference
11 Aug 2014 at 10:47hrs | Views
Vice President Joice Mujuru's faction emerged victorious from the 6th Zanu-PF Youth League elections, with her faction thoroughly walloping the Emmerson Mnangagwa group.
The entrance into politics of First Lady Grace Mugabe was viewed by many, including those from the Mnangagwa faction, as derailing Mujuru's ascendency to power, but the vice president hit back in brutal fashion as her candidates swept to victory.
Kudzai Chipanga, who has the backing of Mujuru, and Manicaland godfather Didymus Mutasa floored Tongai Kasukuwere who reportedly had the backing of the Mnangagwa camp for a place in the politburo as deputy secretary for youths.
Mujuru's faction came out tops in eight out of the 10 Zanu-PF provinces, losing only in Midlands and Mashonaland Central, leaving the Mnangagwa faction spinning out of control.
In a poll that has further divided the party along factional lines, Chipanga, from Manicaland, garnered 1 381 votes against Kasukuwere's 926 votes.
At least 21 votes were spoilt.
Varaidzo Mupunga, again from the Mujuru camp, garnered 1 413 votes against Mnangagwa's protégé Lewis Mathuthu's 891.
The Daily News understands that the Mujuru faction was pushed to victory by Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Manicaland, Harare, Mashonaland East and the Bulawayo provinces which were reportedly delivered by vice president aspirant, Simon Khaya Moyo.
A Mujuru faction member said: "It's game over, it confirms that Mai Mujuru is unstoppable, she is rolling on to power and nobody including the First Lady can stop her."
Several hard-liners in the defeated faction broke a taboo by harshly criticising the poll as rigged.
But Chipanga dismissed claims by his rivals that the poll had been rigged. Asked on widespread allegations that senior party officials manipulated the voting process, Chipanga told the Daily News "not to my knowledge".
He added: "I thank God and the youths who voted for us to be their leaders for the next five years.
"But it is also a heavy load to work for the party. We promise to work for the people and bring back the constituencies that are still in the hands of the MDC. That is the mammoth task that we have."
Amid allegations of deepening factionalism, which President Robert Mugabe himself alluded to during the conference, Chipanga brushed aside talk that he belongs to the Mujuru faction, claiming he backed the presidium in its entirety.
"We do not have factions in Zanu-PF," he claimed.
"I belong to the faction led by president Mugabe and Amai Mugabe. I subscribe to the president who is followed by vice president Mujuru, the national chairperson (Simon Khaya Moyo) and the secretary for administration (Diydmus Mutasa), that is the structure that I know, nothing more."
Kasukuwere, who lost the tense poll despite reported heavy funding, said party hawks swooped on the conference and hijacked the process to produce an outcome of their choice.
"What is important is that the party emerges stronger," he said.
"We have our challenges; we failed to take heed of the president's message for our leaders at the top not to influence the outcome. That was defied. Time will come when we will deal with that. MPs and politburo members who had nothing to do with the process were dishing out presents. We are sending a clear message, please keep out of youths affairs."
Ironically, Tongai's brother Savior, who is a politburo member and Cabinet minister, was also among top guns who were milling around the conference, interacting with the restive youths on voting day on Saturday.
Other party heavyweights who descended on the conference include Temba Mliswa, the Mashonaland West provincial chairperson; Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, the minister of State for Masvingo province and deputy Health minister Paul Chimedza.
While Kasukuwere was diplomatic, Mathuthu, who hails from Midlands where Mnangagwa enjoys godfather status, was shooting from the hip, describing the polls as flawed.
"I know that it was an internal process, but let me be honest, the elections were not fair," he said. "It was very unfortunate that senior leaders had an interest. People were given money, there is overwhelming evidence that the elections were rigged."
Pointing out the presence of provincial chairpersons from the main-wing who held an ad hoc indaba with the youths before the elections, Mathuthu said youths were influenced when they cast their votes on Saturday.
"I can single out Mashonaland West chairperson Cde Mliswa, Cde Andrew Langa, Cde Amos Midzi from Harare province and Cde Chimedza from Masvingo who were addressing youths. They gave them money and took them to a Jah Prayzah show.
"The national commissar (Webster Shamu) was very reluctant to take our complaints, he was ignoring irregularities, for instance people in their 60s from Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces voted. The PC ignored that and we concluded that he had interests," Mathuthu charged.
Shamu, who was accused of plotting a coup when he introduced Mutasa as the acting chairperson in the absence of Khaya Moyo, is also believed to root for the ascendancy of Mujuru.
The entrance into politics of First Lady Grace Mugabe was viewed by many, including those from the Mnangagwa faction, as derailing Mujuru's ascendency to power, but the vice president hit back in brutal fashion as her candidates swept to victory.
Kudzai Chipanga, who has the backing of Mujuru, and Manicaland godfather Didymus Mutasa floored Tongai Kasukuwere who reportedly had the backing of the Mnangagwa camp for a place in the politburo as deputy secretary for youths.
Mujuru's faction came out tops in eight out of the 10 Zanu-PF provinces, losing only in Midlands and Mashonaland Central, leaving the Mnangagwa faction spinning out of control.
In a poll that has further divided the party along factional lines, Chipanga, from Manicaland, garnered 1 381 votes against Kasukuwere's 926 votes.
At least 21 votes were spoilt.
Varaidzo Mupunga, again from the Mujuru camp, garnered 1 413 votes against Mnangagwa's protégé Lewis Mathuthu's 891.
The Daily News understands that the Mujuru faction was pushed to victory by Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Manicaland, Harare, Mashonaland East and the Bulawayo provinces which were reportedly delivered by vice president aspirant, Simon Khaya Moyo.
A Mujuru faction member said: "It's game over, it confirms that Mai Mujuru is unstoppable, she is rolling on to power and nobody including the First Lady can stop her."
Several hard-liners in the defeated faction broke a taboo by harshly criticising the poll as rigged.
But Chipanga dismissed claims by his rivals that the poll had been rigged. Asked on widespread allegations that senior party officials manipulated the voting process, Chipanga told the Daily News "not to my knowledge".
He added: "I thank God and the youths who voted for us to be their leaders for the next five years.
"But it is also a heavy load to work for the party. We promise to work for the people and bring back the constituencies that are still in the hands of the MDC. That is the mammoth task that we have."
"We do not have factions in Zanu-PF," he claimed.
"I belong to the faction led by president Mugabe and Amai Mugabe. I subscribe to the president who is followed by vice president Mujuru, the national chairperson (Simon Khaya Moyo) and the secretary for administration (Diydmus Mutasa), that is the structure that I know, nothing more."
Kasukuwere, who lost the tense poll despite reported heavy funding, said party hawks swooped on the conference and hijacked the process to produce an outcome of their choice.
"What is important is that the party emerges stronger," he said.
"We have our challenges; we failed to take heed of the president's message for our leaders at the top not to influence the outcome. That was defied. Time will come when we will deal with that. MPs and politburo members who had nothing to do with the process were dishing out presents. We are sending a clear message, please keep out of youths affairs."
Ironically, Tongai's brother Savior, who is a politburo member and Cabinet minister, was also among top guns who were milling around the conference, interacting with the restive youths on voting day on Saturday.
Other party heavyweights who descended on the conference include Temba Mliswa, the Mashonaland West provincial chairperson; Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, the minister of State for Masvingo province and deputy Health minister Paul Chimedza.
While Kasukuwere was diplomatic, Mathuthu, who hails from Midlands where Mnangagwa enjoys godfather status, was shooting from the hip, describing the polls as flawed.
"I know that it was an internal process, but let me be honest, the elections were not fair," he said. "It was very unfortunate that senior leaders had an interest. People were given money, there is overwhelming evidence that the elections were rigged."
Pointing out the presence of provincial chairpersons from the main-wing who held an ad hoc indaba with the youths before the elections, Mathuthu said youths were influenced when they cast their votes on Saturday.
"I can single out Mashonaland West chairperson Cde Mliswa, Cde Andrew Langa, Cde Amos Midzi from Harare province and Cde Chimedza from Masvingo who were addressing youths. They gave them money and took them to a Jah Prayzah show.
"The national commissar (Webster Shamu) was very reluctant to take our complaints, he was ignoring irregularities, for instance people in their 60s from Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces voted. The PC ignored that and we concluded that he had interests," Mathuthu charged.
Shamu, who was accused of plotting a coup when he introduced Mutasa as the acting chairperson in the absence of Khaya Moyo, is also believed to root for the ascendancy of Mujuru.
Source - dailynews
