Chaos in Zanu-PF structures

THE setting up of a parallel team to manage provincial affairs ahead of the Zanu-PF congress, outside of the normal provincial leadership structures, is set to create mayhem as the introduction of additional committees has provided fodder for power tussles.  With provincial leadership being hotly contested and disputed along factional lines, the juxtaposition of a parallel structure, which was actually meant to deal with factional differences, is set to do more harm than good as machinations to oust and outdo each other go into overdrive.

Ten Politburo members - Emmerson Mnangagwa (Midlands), Didymus Mutasa (Manicaland), Obert Mpofu (Matabeleland North), Sydney Sekeramayi (Mashonaland East), Cleveria Chizema (Harare), Nicholas Goche (Mashonaland Central), Abigail Damasane (Matabeleland South), Sikhanyiso Ndlovu (Bulawayo), Dzikamai Mavhaire (Masvingo) and Ignatius Chombo (Mashonaland West), were asked to assume control of the provinces until congress due in December.

The party has been torn between two major factions reportedly fronted by Justice Minister, Mnangagwa and Vice President Joice Mujuru, both of whom have repeatedly denied leading any faction. The Mujuru faction, according to party insiders, claims proximity to nine of the 10 provincial chairmen, while only one is associated with the Mnangagwa camp.

Party insiders said instead of quelling factionalism as intended, the move to appoint the senior Politburo members over and above existing provincial leadership was a recipe for further division. "I foresee a situation where provincial chairpersons fail to accept that they have actually been seconded to the Politburo members and in such a scenario, they might fail to corporate and establish parallel structures and by so doing, they could cause even more problems," a Zanu-PF insider said.

"What this has shown is that the President and the party's leadership have no confidence at all in the provincial chairpersons. This is a very big statement," added the source. The sources confided in the Financial Gazette that the Mnangagwa camp had seized the opportunity to dethrone elected provincial chairpersons. Already in Mashonaland West, where a vote of no confidence had been passed, two weeks ago, against chair, Temba Mliswa, a new scuffle manifested when Mliswa refused to make way for Chombo to lead proceedings.

Although Chombo and Patrick Zhuwao, a Politburo member from the province said Mliswa had been deposed of, Mliswa denied he had been ousted. Matters were not helped by party spokesman, Rugare Gumbo, rubbishing claims Mliswa was out.  "The statement by Chombo is blatant fabrication, the Politburo never fired Mliswa. We will receive the report from the disciplinary committee in the Politburo and only then will the position in Mashonaland West be taken," Gumbo said.

While the situation in Mashonaland West has hogged the limelight, a silent battle to oust Midlands provincial chairman, Jason Machaya, who is also linked to the Mujuru camp, has been slowly gaining momentum. A senior Zanu-PF official in the province said Machaya's fate would be sealed at the next Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting which will be chaired by Mnangagwa. What complicates Machaya's case is the fact that since he came into office a year ago, the province has failed to hold even a single PCC meeting.

An interesting scenario is also obtaining in Harare where the most senior Politburo member, Chizema, whose relations with the Amos Midzi have soured since she openly called for his head about two months ago. Chizema said Midzi and his executive had no choice but to live with the reality that she is in control at least until Congress. "What else can they do? They have no choice but cooperate with the Politburo directive," she charged.

Ray Kaukonde of Mashonaland East has been subject to scathing attacks from the First Lady, Amai Grace Mugabe, and war veterans were reported to be planning on staging a demonstration against him.  Sources, however, said defense minister Sekeramayi was a level headed man and would be very difficult to drag into the smear wars dogging the ruling party.

Manicaland and Bulawayo have different narratives as provincial chairmen. John Mvundura and Callistus Ndlovu enjoy cordial relations, with Mutasa and Sikhanyiso who have been respectively, placed in the driving seats of their provinces.
Damasane and Mpofu are, however, expected to stamp their authority over Andrew Langa and Richard Moyo in Matabeleland South and North respectively.