Zanu-PF bigwigs at odds over kidnappings

THE ZANU-PF Women's League boss, Oppah Muchinguri, and party spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, are at odds over the former's announcement of the alleged kidnapping of members of the women's wing over the past few weeks. As the national mouthpiece of the party, Gumbo took issue with members of the party usurping the podium to announce what he called falsehoods.

"As the spokesperson for the party I am responsible for making known national issues, and there is nothing wrong with the Women's League speaking about their own issues, but when they speak of things that are untrue, we have a problem with that," Gumbo told the Financial Gazette.

On Heroes day, Muchinguri told a press conference that the Women's League was seized with the matter of kidnappings of some of its members who had been taken captive by people wishing to influence them to vote for certain candidates over others in the provincial elections of the women's wing of the party, which were held over a week ago.

"We have received reports of kidnappings of delegates to the forthcoming conference …. We have also received numerous reports of intimidation to the extent that some women delegates are terrified," Muchinguri said.  At the press conference which was attended by Information Minister, Jonathan Moyo; Environment, Water and Climate Change Minister, Saviour Kasukuwere; president of the Senate, Edna Madzongwe; Politburo member, Patrick Zhuwao; Central Committee member, Monica Mutsvangwa who is also spokesperson for the Women's League; and businessman, Phillip Chiyangwa — Muchinguri said the league would not tolerate the kidnappings.

"These reports are very worrying and they must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The league wants to make it clear and put on record the fact that any of its members who are kidnapped or sequestered ahead of the conference will be deregistered and will thus not be allowed to participate in the conference without any fear or favour to enforce discipline as well as to protect and ensure the integrity of the conference," the league boss said.

However, Gumbo rubbished the claims, saying there was no evidence to back them up. "It is not true, there was nothing like that. Zvinobva kupi? How can they talk about things without evidence? There are no police reports of that," Gumbo said. "This tarnishes the image of the party."

Although police spokesperson, Charity Charamba, could not be reached for comment at the time of going to press, and Muchinguri was in Cabinet when she was called to shed more light, Mutsvangwa told the Financial Gazette that police reports had been made. "The matter is a police case and investigations are ongoing," Mutsvangwa said.

Gumbo said the party was taking issue with the announcement of the false claims and would sit down and discuss the matter. "Of, course we will discuss the issue. There is no question about it," Gumbo said.

"The Women's League is part of the electoral college and what we say (should be taken seriously). Some women were sequestered against their wishes where they were being indoctrinated to vote for certain candidates. We received reports from Midlands, Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland Central provinces," Mutsvangwa said.

However, the kidnapped women have since been released, Mutsvangwa said. "I can tell you that all delegates are on their way to the conference and everything is under control," she said, adding that investigations were nonetheless ongoing. "Police reports were made and investigations are underway," Mutsvangwa said.