Robert Mugabe's real dilemma

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe will soon convene a special Politburo meeting to get to the bottom of the rot that reared its ugly head at the just-ended Zanu-PF Youth League conference at which senior officials in his Zanu-PF party were accused of using money to influence delegates to vote for their preferred candidates.

The Zanu-PF leader took the decision to refer the matter to the party's supreme decision-making body in between congresses last Friday after an impromptu meeting he had convened at State House, his official residence, to crack disputes around the conduct of Youth League elections saw the victims being turned into villains.

The Financial Gazette can exclusively reveal that the Zanu-PF first secretary and President had earlier gave audience to Tongai Kasukuwere and Lewis Matutu who had gone to State House, after the two losing candidates for the most senior contested positions in the youth wing had requested for the meeting. They were accompanied by Environment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, Tongai's brother, former legislator, Patrick Zhuwao, and outgoing deputy secretary for youth affairs, Edson Chakanyuka.

But after presenting President Mugabe with a petition in which they sought the nullification of the elections on the basis of vote buying, the quartet was asked to bring evidence to substantiate their claims two days later. They returned to State house on Friday, accompanied by seven of the 10 provincial youth chairpersons who were ready to testify against Zanu-PF bigwigs fingered in the vote buying scandal only to find President Mugabe had summoned all government ministers, save for the few who had gone to Victoria Falls for the 34th Southern African Development Community summit.

Also summoned by President Mugabe for the meeting were Politburo members. Some of the ministers who attended the meeting included Ignatius Chombo, the Local Government Minister; Dzikamai Mavhaire, the Energy Minister; Nicholas Goche, the Minister of Labour; Jonathan Moyo, Minister of Information; Walter Mzembi, Minister of Tourism; Andrew Langa Minister of Sport; Kembo Mohadi, Minister of Home Affairs and Sithembiso Nyoni, Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises.

Vice President Joice Mujuru and several provincial chairpersons of the main wing such as John Mvundura (Manicaland), Ray Kaukonde (Mashonaland East) and Temba Mliswa (Mashonaland West) were also among those present. "The President first gave the floor to (Tongai) Kasukuwere and company to give their evidence and all the seven provincial youth chairpersons testified that they had witnessed money exchanging hands during the conference," a Zanu-PF insider said.

Kasukuwere and Matutu were floored during the Youth League elections by Kudzai Chipanga, the new Zanu-PF Youth League deputy secretary and Varaidzo Mupunga, the incoming secretary for administration. Party bigwigs were, however, accused of pumping money ahead of the elections to sway votes in favour of their proxies.

It was for the first time in Zanu-PF's history that youths were forced to take to the ballot after they failed to reach a consensus in filling up the top positions. The rest of the lower positions were, however, filled by consensus. After the elections, President Mugabe launched a tirade at the culprits accused of vote buying, describing those guilty of giving and receiving money in return for votes as "political prostitutes" and "rubbish".  He also dismissed the new office bearers as unfit for leadership positions.

After the elections, President Mugabe launched a tirade at the culprits describing those guilty of giving and receiving money in return for votes as "political prostitutes" and "rubbish". He also dismissed the new office bearers as unfit for leadership positions. The President could not immediately tell who was right and who was wronged, forcing him to refer the matter to the Politburo.

The meeting turned explosive when Zanu-PF national political commissar, Shamu, Mvundura and Mliswa, who had been singled out as the main culprits, were given time to respond to the allegations along with other senior party members. There was a bitter exchange of words as accusations and counter accusations flew from both sides.  The Environment Minister, for example, became the target for condemnation. He was fiercely criticised for interfering with the electoral process by fronting his brother.

For example, Kaukonde told the meeting that Kasukuwere called him several times to ask for support for his younger brother's candidature and at one time phoned him at 3am. Tendai Savanhu of Harare Province also rose to attack Kasukuwere saying he was blaming others for vote buying when he also ran a makeshift command centre at the 15th floor of the Rainbow Towers Hotel from where he called the shots.

Shamu also attacked the seven provincial youth chairpersons who were in support of Kasukuwere, likening their behaviour to that of the popular liberation wartime Nhari whereby ZANLA members in Chifombo, Zambia rebelled against the leadership of ZANU, the political party it was attached to.  The uprising was led by Thomas Nhari, from whom it takes its name.

"Shamu told urged the President to treat the matter with caution saying he saw elements of the Nhari type of rebellion of the war time saying the behaviour of the youths showed that there was a possibility of a repeat of such rebellions and added that the Chitepo ideological college must be reintroduced to curb the possible rebellions," said the Zanu-PF member.

Shamu's sentiments were shared by David Parirenyatwa, a Zanu-PF Politburo member and the party's secretary for health. So tense was the meeting that Mvundura said he was contemplating resigning his position. "He felt the heat as all focus was on him after he openly supported Chipanga who comes from his province," the source said.

The source said Kasukuwere shocked the meeting when he said he was under attack from his colleagues because of his differences with Mujuru when he was given time to respond at the end of the meeting.  "Kasukuwere said he was under attack from the comrades because of his issues with Mai Mujuru. He said he would sit down with her so that they try to solve their issues amicably and see what they can agree on if they can agree at all," the source said.

President Mugabe declined to give his ruling on the case and referred it to the Politburo, Zanu-PF's highest decision making body, for deliberation at its next meeting, a situation which party insiders said shows that he was taking it seriously.  "The President said he had realised from the exchanges that there was a bigger issue that is on the surface. He said the issues would thus be resolved in the next Politburo meeting," said another source.

Efforts to get a comment from Kasukuwere were in vain as he was said to be attending a Cabinet meeting while his brother, Tongai was not picking up calls. Presidential spokesperson, George Charamba was not picking up calls, while current Secretary for Youth Affairs, Absalom Sikhosana professed ignorance about the matter.  

"I am hearing about the dispute over results for the first time from you. What I know is that we had a successful conference last week which ended on a high note and indeed everybody was happy about the outcome of the election," Sikhosana said.