Zanu PF hit by forgery allegations

Zanu PF Mashonaland West Provincial has been hit by forgery allegations as Executive Council (PEC) members have disowned a petition that was used to pass a vote of no confidence in acting chair Ziyambi Ziyambi.

The PEC members, some of whom have already signed affidavits bearing apparently different signatures from those on the petition, said they were at a loss as to who signed the petition on their behalf.

According to the Standard, apart from the fraudulent signatures, some officials also allege that they signed under duress as they were told to sign by some Central Committee and Politburo members who allegedly told them that First Lady Grace Mugabe had directed that everyone should sign the petition.

The Standard said according to an affidavit of  provincial youth league secretary for administration Ignatius Marufu, he  said he never attended any PEC meeting and the one where the motion [to oust Ziyambi] was moved.

"I am at a loss as to who forged my signature as I never saw or signed any petition of the sort," he said in the affidavit.

Deputy Secretary for Lands in the province Prince Jowa said: "That petition is a farce and a sham and I totally and unequivocally dissociate myself from it".

 The claims throw into disarray the efforts to sack Ziyambi as two thirds of the executive are required to support a motion to pass a vote of no confidence.

 The petition was required to have 34 signatures out of a possible 54, but the bid is crumbling with about 14 of the members already contesting its credibility.