Sekeramayi, Parirenyatwa on the ropes

Zanu-PF has ordered fresh Central Committee elections in Mashonaland East Province today following concerns that the list submitted to the 6th National People's Congress last week did not reflect the wishes of the people.

This effectively nullifies two amended lists separately approved yesterday by the provincial executive and an interim committee set up by war veterans to run the affairs of the province.

Both lists saw the ouster of one of the longest-serving member of the Central Committee in Mashonaland East Province Dr Sydney Sekeramayi and other heavyweights who included Dr David Parirenyatwa, Cdes Paddy Zhanda and Jerry Gotora.

Congress delegates from Mashonaland East raised complaints over the names submitted as Central Committee members from their province, prompting the President to ask the province to re-look their list and submit names acceptable to the members.

Outgoing national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo last night told journalists that the elections would be held in all the administrative districts today.

He said the decision had been taken in consultation with the President and First Secretary of the party.

"The Electoral College will still remain the same, that is the district chairpersons of the main wing, the Youth and the Women's Leagues of the party districts," he said.

"The Zimbabwe Republic Police under the command of the Dispol will preside and supervise the elections.

"The elections will be held simultaneously in all the administrative districts of Mashonaland East Province between 11am and 3pm tomorrow (today), 9th December 2014.

"All the party comrades involved are expected to co-operate and conduct a clean election."

Yesterday, party officials from the nine administrative districts in the province met in Marondera and made several amendments to the rejected list, pulling out Cdes Sekeramayi, Parirenyatwa, Zhanda and Gotora.

While they were busy making their changes, acting provincial chairperson Phineas Chihota and his team were in Harare making amendments to the same list, a development that saw the province coming up with two different lists.

However, Chihota's list also had excluded the quartet, a sign that their leadership was no longer desirable in the province.

Patrick Makombe, who led proceedings in Marondera, said it was surprising that Chihota had decided to go against the President.

"All district officials are here and we are surprised that another list is said to have gone to the party leadership," he said.

"This is the headquarters of the province and why have they chosen to go and amend it secretly. Anything not done in the view of the people is bogus. The people said the names should come from the people and that is why we gathered here."

He said all those pulled out of the Central Committee tried to block the expulsion of ousted provincial chairman Ray Kaukonde, who was said to have skipped the border into South Africa in the wake of reports of his involvement in the plot to oust President Mugabe.

Chihota confirmed that they had made seven changes to the list they submitted at the party headquarters but did not disclose the names of the people pulled out.

A source who amended the list with Chihota, said the other three "bad apples" removed were Cdes David Kanjere, Moreblessing Mushure and Zvikomborero Manguwo.

"We have made the seven amendments and I will give you the names of those removed and their replacements after President Mugabe has approved it," said Chihota without clarifying whom he had amended the list with.

On Sunday, Chihota who many believe to be part of VP Mujuru's camp, indicated that there was no need for fresh elections.

He has denied links to VP Mujuru and Kaukonde.

Sekeramayi stands accused of failing to rein in Kaukonde when he went about sponsoring factional activities and sexually abusing female party members in the province, despite being secretary for security in the Politburo.

He is being accused of doing nothing, let alone alerting the Politburo about the sinister plots, yet all the machinations were happening right under his nose, leading many to conclude he was party to the Mujuru cabal.