Zanu-PF to clampdown on dissent

Zanu-PF party, reeling from vicious  internecine factional fights that have now turned violent following skirmishes in Harare last weekend, yesterday moved to clampdown on dissent triggered by the entrance of First Lady Grace Mugabe into mainstream politics.

In a statement following a meeting of provincial chairpersons, national chairperson and head of the party's election directorate, Simon Khaya-Moyo, issued a stern warning, declaring "Zanu-PF does not conduct business in newspapers" and dissuaded members from "abusing the First Family".

"Zanu-PF is a mammoth organisation, a revolutionary party with massive membership and, therefore, its structures must be intact and its membership registers verifiable every time. Zanu-PF is not a media party and its operations cannot be conducted through the media. Zanu-PF is a party of discipline and this must be reflected throughout its structures," Moyo said.

"On this note, I must warn the party leadership at every level not to use the media to abuse the First Lady's name for whatever reason. The First Family must be respected at all times."

Early this month, First Lady Grace Mugabe was thrust into political limelight after being nominated as the party's next head of the women's league.

Serving women's league boss Oppah Muchinguri led women from the party's 10 provinces to the First Family's Mazowe farm and endorsed Grace Mugabe as her preferred heiress to the throne.

Khaya Moyo's warning comes after the succession race in Zanu-PF has triggered a free for all, with career diplomat and deputy Foreign minister Christopher Mutsvangwa leading the charge through vitriolic media attacks on top leaders, including secretary for administration Dydimus Mutasa and Vice-President Joice Mujuru, accusing them of seeking to undermine the First Lady's ascendency to lead the party's women's league.