'Zanu-PF barty bigwigs pushing for regime change,' says Gumbo

Internal strife in Zanu-PF took a new twist yesterday, with the party's secretary for information and publicity, Rugare Gumbo, claiming that some senior party members were pushing the regime change agenda from within under the guise of supporting President Mugabe.

This came in the wake of President Mugabe's announcement that an urgent Politburo meeting has been called this week to review the Women and Youth League conferences and probe reports of vote buying and manipulation by Politburo and Central Committee members as well provincial chairpersons.

During the conferences, there were reports of some irregularities including intimidation and vote buying as some members sought to influence the outcome.

In a statement yesterday, Gumbo said there were some internal machinations meant to divert President Mugabe from dealing with real issues affecting the party and the country.

"Indeed we must all be wary of elements that feign love for President Mugabe and Zanu-PF yet their real agenda is to divert President Mugabe's attention from the core business of Government in order to create problems for the party and for President Mugabe in 2018 when elections are due. We have always known that there is a regime change agenda in place, only this time it is being pushed by our own people under the guise of loving President Mugabe.

"This is unacceptable behaviour, which smacks of deceit and a very high level of wickedness," he said.

Zanu-PF has been rocked by divisions since the Youth League and Women's League conferences.

Harare Youth League chairman Godwin Gomwe, accused Politburo members Tendai Savanhu, Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa, Central Committee member Noah Mangondo and provincial chairman Amos Midzi of being behind the vote-buying scam.

Apart from that Mashonaland West Youth League chairman Vengai Musengi, was also suspended for allegedly abusing the party's name although he denies the charges saying he was being victimised for supporting the elevation of First Lady Amai Mugabe to be Secretary for Women's Affairs.

The matters are expected to be resolved during a Politburo meeting to be held this week.

Gumbo could not, however, name the officials he mentioned as plotting to oust President Mugabe.

"No I am not going to name them," he said.

Gumbo also congratulated President Mugabe for clinching various deals that are going to benefit the country's infrastructure development during his trip to China.

"Zanu-PF wishes to congratulate the First Secretary of the party and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces President Robert Gabriel Mugabe for his successful and historic visit to China, which culminated in the signing of nine crucial deals and MoUs between Zimbabwe and China.

"Zimbabwe and China have a long history of working together collaboratively on matters of mutual interest and President Mugabe's visit has gone a long way in cementing this relationship.

"The agreements will see a major boost in the energy, roads, national railway network, telecommunications, agriculture and tourism sectors," he said.

"Not only do we see this as significant, we believe it is a timely arrangement that has come at a very critical moment as we forge ahead with the implementation of Zim-Asset."

Gumbo urged all party members to exert their energies on implementing Government's economic blueprint, the Zim-Asset.

"This is all the more reason why everyone's focus should be on the implementation of Government initiatives for the good of our people.

"Anyone who misdirects their focus to dwell on petty, narrow and immature politics is not only showing disrespect to President Mugabe who is genuinely determined to improve the welfare of the people - but is on the wrong side of history and should be ashamed of himself or herself.

"Zanu-PF won a historic five -year-mandate to address critical matters of national interest and that is what we should all focus on," he said.