News / National
Kasukuwere fails to heal Zanu-PF rift
11 May 2015 at 07:03hrs | Views
Zanu-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere last Friday came face to face with warring party candidates for the Harare East constituency from which they emerged even further divided.
In a continuation of the internal factional fights that have rocked the ruling party particularly in the past year or so, Zanu-PF will be represented by two candidates in the Harare East by-election set for June.
The former guerrilla movement was left with egg on the face following a failed bid to withdraw the candidature of career banker Terrence Mukupe who won the party's primaries against his rival Mavis Gumbo.
Gumbo, who is former Women's Football leader, was reported to have the support of the powerful Zanu-PF Women's League headed by First Lady Grace Mugabe, secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo, the acting Harare provincial leadership and Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
On the other hand, little-known Mukupe has Kasukuwere who is in charge of the party's commissariat and overall electoral machinery on his side.
While insiders insisted that Kasukuwere was "ordered" by First Lady Grace to dump Mukupe for Gumbo, the Environment minister said he was unaware of the alleged directive from the First Lady or anyone in the party.
In a continuation of the internal factional fights that have rocked the ruling party particularly in the past year or so, Zanu-PF will be represented by two candidates in the Harare East by-election set for June.
The former guerrilla movement was left with egg on the face following a failed bid to withdraw the candidature of career banker Terrence Mukupe who won the party's primaries against his rival Mavis Gumbo.
On the other hand, little-known Mukupe has Kasukuwere who is in charge of the party's commissariat and overall electoral machinery on his side.
While insiders insisted that Kasukuwere was "ordered" by First Lady Grace to dump Mukupe for Gumbo, the Environment minister said he was unaware of the alleged directive from the First Lady or anyone in the party.
Source - newsday
