News / National
Grace Mugabe summons Kasukuwere
08 May 2015 at 06:43hrs | Views
Zanu-PF Women's League boss First Lady Grace Mugabe has reportedly summoned and directed party national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere to dump his preferred candidate for Harare East constituency, Terrence Mukupe, and mobilise support for Mavis Gumbo, for the June 10 by-election.
Party insiders said Grace issued the directive this week after the Electoral Court gave Mukupe and Gumbo the greenlight to both contest the by-election as Zanu-PF candidates.
Grace has lately emerged as "Zanu-PF Kingmaker" with reports saying she wielded significant influence on most decisions made by her 91-year-old husband, President Robert Mugabe.
She has given a directive to Kasukuwere that the party backs Gumbo the source is not sure if they will wait for a politburo meeting for this one, a source close to the development said yesterday. Gumbo is former Zimbabwe Women's Football boss and ex-Zifa board member.
The ruling party has been sharply divided over Gumbo and Mukupe's candidatures with Kasukuwere reportedly backing Mukupe while national secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo and Zanu-PF Harare provincial acting chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa were behind Gumbo.
The Chombo camp was reportedly heavily connected to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa with strong links to the country's security apparatus, while Mukupe has the backing of Kasukuwere and a group of youthful Zanu-PF politicians derisively known as Generation 40.
Party insiders said Grace issued the directive this week after the Electoral Court gave Mukupe and Gumbo the greenlight to both contest the by-election as Zanu-PF candidates.
Grace has lately emerged as "Zanu-PF Kingmaker" with reports saying she wielded significant influence on most decisions made by her 91-year-old husband, President Robert Mugabe.
She has given a directive to Kasukuwere that the party backs Gumbo the source is not sure if they will wait for a politburo meeting for this one, a source close to the development said yesterday. Gumbo is former Zimbabwe Women's Football boss and ex-Zifa board member.
The ruling party has been sharply divided over Gumbo and Mukupe's candidatures with Kasukuwere reportedly backing Mukupe while national secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo and Zanu-PF Harare provincial acting chairperson Godwills Masimirembwa were behind Gumbo.
The Chombo camp was reportedly heavily connected to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa with strong links to the country's security apparatus, while Mukupe has the backing of Kasukuwere and a group of youthful Zanu-PF politicians derisively known as Generation 40.
Source - newsday
