Zanu-PF in turmoil, chaos now order of the day, says Gumbo

ZANU-PF is in turmoil and its almost impossible to halt the chaos in the ruling party as factions square off to outdo each other ahead of the party's December Congress.

And the party's under fire national spokesperson Rugare Gumbo unashamedly confirmed that chaos and disorder have become the order of the day in the party.

Gumbo described the situation as akin to a free for all, as an unprecedented purge of Zanu-PF provincial chairpersons swung into full gear this week.

"As the situation stands there is no order and discipline that is why you find this happening," he said yesterday. In recent weeks Zanu-PF has been gripped by confusion, as senior members aligned to Vice-President Joice Mujuru are being pushed out of their positions.

Already six provincial chairmen - Temba Mliswa of Mashonaland West, Killian Gwanetsa from Masvingo, Harare's Amos Midzi, Ray Kaukonde from Mashonaland East and Matabeleland South's Andrew Langa have had contentious votes of no confidence passed on them.

Gumbo, the subject of an ouster motion himself, said he was surprised by the nature of the motions of no confidence, advising that the party's politburo would have a look at them.

"Yes, indeed they are in violation of a politburo resolution," he said.

"However the politburo hasn't sat, but it will definitely look into the matter."

The party spokesman has described the votes of no confidence as a sad development, maintaining that this was the height of disorder.

"The politburo is going to solve these issues," he said.

"If they were done unconstitutionally and unprocedurally, there is no way that the politburo will uphold something which is unconstitutional."

Mujuru had all but retained her position as the party's second secretary and vice-president of the country, but a purge of her perceived allies threatens her position ahead of the Zanu-PF congress next month.

A faction reportedly linked to Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa has in recent weeks gained the momentum in Zanu-PF's ever murky succession wars.

Mujuru's fortunes took a dip after First Lady Grace Mugabe accused her of corruption and plotting to unseat President Robert Mugabe.

Despite calls for civility ahead of the elective congress, Mujuru's foes are upping their ante and details of her alleged corrupt dealings are being exposed.

Zanu-PF's politburo sat two weeks ago to discuss allegations of corruption against Mujuru, however, results of that meeting remain sketchy as different sides give conflicting statements.