News / National
Zanu-PF's factional wars have spread to Mashonaland East
01 Nov 2015 at 09:32hrs | Views
Zanu-PF's factional wars have spread to Mashonaland East where provincial chairperson Joel Biggie Matiza yesterday survived a plot to topple him, amid allegations he is being victimised for supporting Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
A faction linked to First Lady Grace Mugabe known as Generation 40 (G40), is accused of trying to rid Zanu-PF structures of Mnangagwa's sympathisers in the battle to succeed President Robert Mugabe.
The plot to oust Matiza - who replaced Ray Kaukonde during purges of officials linked to former Vice-President Joice Mujuru — was allegedly executed at 2am.
However, Matiza turned the tables hours later after convening his own meeting of the provincial executive that fired a rival group, including recently-elected MP Lawrence Katsiru.
Grace's name was mentioned as one of the reasons for the shake-up.
"The members are being accused of misusing the names of senior Zanu-PF party members, including the First Family in pursuit of their sinister agenda of causing mayhem, confusion ahead of 2018 elections," said Matiza.
"During their nocturnal quest for signatures to satisfy their alleged vote-of-no-confidence agenda, the members threatened that they were sent by Dr Amai Grace Mugabe, which was coercive and led to other members in Chikomba to sign because of fear to conflict with the First Family.
"This was a breach of the party's constitution Article 3 Section 5."
Among those fired were Bernard Makokove (vice-chair), Katsiru (secretary for administration), Cainos Ngoshi (deputy-secretary for administration) and Malvin Matimura (secretary for disabled and disadvantaged).
Goromonzi West MP, Beater Nyamupinga and her Goromonzi South counterpart Petronella Kagonye were sacked from the women's league.
A faction linked to First Lady Grace Mugabe known as Generation 40 (G40), is accused of trying to rid Zanu-PF structures of Mnangagwa's sympathisers in the battle to succeed President Robert Mugabe.
The plot to oust Matiza - who replaced Ray Kaukonde during purges of officials linked to former Vice-President Joice Mujuru — was allegedly executed at 2am.
However, Matiza turned the tables hours later after convening his own meeting of the provincial executive that fired a rival group, including recently-elected MP Lawrence Katsiru.
Grace's name was mentioned as one of the reasons for the shake-up.
"During their nocturnal quest for signatures to satisfy their alleged vote-of-no-confidence agenda, the members threatened that they were sent by Dr Amai Grace Mugabe, which was coercive and led to other members in Chikomba to sign because of fear to conflict with the First Family.
"This was a breach of the party's constitution Article 3 Section 5."
Among those fired were Bernard Makokove (vice-chair), Katsiru (secretary for administration), Cainos Ngoshi (deputy-secretary for administration) and Malvin Matimura (secretary for disabled and disadvantaged).
Goromonzi West MP, Beater Nyamupinga and her Goromonzi South counterpart Petronella Kagonye were sacked from the women's league.
Source - thestandard
