Gumbo blasts senior Zanu-PF officials over factionalism

Zanu-PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo has blasted some senior party members for causing disharmony and factionalism in Zanu-PF as the battle to succeed President Robert Mugabe intensifies.

In an interview yesterday, Gumbo said, he together with Didymus Mutasa the party secretary for administration, were strong supporters of the Presidium and were being accused of influencing the outcome of the Youth League and Women's League elections results.

"Some of us are strong supporters of the status quo in the party as we support the presidium led by President Robert Mugabe, Vice President Joice Mujuru and national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo.

"This is why some of these people who want to see a change in the presidium are causing problems, making false statements about me and Mutasa," said Gumbo.

He had no kind words for some of his politburo members whom he accused of causing havoc in the party.

"The problem is that we have some senior members in the politburo who are causing factionalism in the party, and want to blame everyone for the failure of their preferred candidates to win the elections.

"I know that Mutasa is a reserved and straight forward person who does not cause problems for anyone in the party," said Gumbo.

He added: "We have nothing to do with the outcome of the Women's League and Youth League results. These are organs of the party that have their own members who vote for the candidates they want.

"It is all nonsense that Mutasa and myself are influencing results of elections."

The faction aligned to Emmerson Mnangagwa minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary affairs is said to be itching to recover lost ground after losing in the youth elections held last weekend in a poll that has further divided the party.

Kudzai Chipanga, from Manicaland, garnered 1 381 votes against Tongai Kasukuwere's 926 votes.

Louis Mathuthu  who hails from Midlands where Mnangagwa enjoys support, described the polls as flawed after he lost the post of youth secretary for administration to Varaidzo Mupunga, of the Mujuru faction.

Gumbo and Mutasa are some of the senior party members who are said to sympathise with the Mujuru faction.

Gumbo defended the presence of Mutasa and some senior party members at the women's conference.

"I am only going to attend the conference for the president's closing speech today (Yesterday), as I did during the Youth League conference.

"Mutasa will attend the two conferences on daily basis because he wants to see that it is going smoothly as he is the party administrator," said Gumbo.