'Mnangagwa' plans to expel Mujuru allies resisted

Plans by supporters of Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa to unseat Zanu provincial chairpersons perceived to be sympathetic to embattled Vice President Joice Mujuru have hit a brick wall.

This emerged over the weekend after the party held tense provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meetings in almost all of the country's provinces, where moves to either suspend or expel seating chairmen took centre stage.

In the Mashonaland East PCC, the executive defied President Robert Mugabe, his wife Grace and Mnangagwa's supporters, saying they had confidence in the beleaguered provincial chairman, Ray Kaukonde.

Sources who attended the meeting said yesterday, central committee member and Marondera West legislator, retired brigadier-general Ambrose Mutinhiri moved the motion that the province fully backed Kaukonde.

"Mutinhiri was the one who got the ball rolling by stating that the province fully backs the executive, including plans to expel Mujuru allies resisted Kaukonde. (David) Chapfika seconded the motion and said the province was united in its support of the executive," one of the sources said.

"Everyone who attended the meeting agreed that we are all behind the executive and everyone is united. Ministers Sydney Sekeramai and Olivia Muchena also attended the meeting," another source added.

Recently, Mugabe and his wife accused Kaukonde of sponsoring factionalism and causing mayhem in the party during the First Lady's rally in Marondera.

Supporters of Mnangagwa have since moved to try and expel Kaukonde, riding on the First Family's publicly-stated dislike of the man.

Some war veterans in Marondera, led by Patrick Makombe, have also threatened to stage a demonstration against Kaukonde for allegedly fanning factionalism in the party and protecting white commercial farmers in the province.

In the Midlands PCC meeting held on Saturday, plans to suspend provincial chairman Jason Machaya also hit a brick wall after his supporters apparently mobilised youths and war veterans to demonstrate against his ouster.

"The attempted vote-of-no-confidence failed to take place as war veterans, youths and women who support Machaya countered it at the conference, waving placards and denouncing factionalism," a party insider who attended the meeting said.

"So, in the end they (Mnangagwa's supporters) could not go ahead with their plan. The meeting then went ahead with deliberations on the forthcoming congress," the source added.

Similarly, a provincial executive council (PEC) meeting held on Saturday in Masvingo and attended by 35 members,  affirmed retired brigadier-general Callisto Gwanetsa's leadership of the province.

The PEC meeting also unanimously resolved to pass a vote of no confidence in Gwanetsa‘s deputy, Paradzai Chakona.

Gwanetsa is said to have argued that his purported suspension was a nullity as Chakona had not followed proper procedures.

Chakona on Thursday said Gwanetsa had been booted out for allegedly promoting factionalism, abusing office and failing to execute his duties as chairperson.

In Harare, sources said there are continuing plots to oust chairperson Amos Midzi also for allegedly fanning factionalism, a fate also facing the Manicaland chairperson John Mvundura.

All these machinations led party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo to speak against the expulsions of provincial chairmen on Friday.

"I have heard about Gwanetsa and am surprised. Is this how things are done? We are aware that there is a congress but some of the things happening are not okay," Gumbo said.

Temba Mliswa was ousted as the Mashonaland West chairman earlier this month and the politburo has since moved to affirm the decision against all expectations.