Kasukuwere lifts Mashonaland East suspensions

Zanu-PF national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday lifted all suspensions and counter suspensions of cadres that had been imposed last week as rival camps within the party's Mashonaland East provincial executive tussled for turf.

Kasukuwere, accompanied by some Politburo members from the province, convened a meeting with senior provincial members before addressing a provincial coordinating committee at the party's provincial headquarters in Marondera.

He directed the warring cadres to set their differences aside and work together.

The meeting was convened after party provincial deputy chairperson, Bernard Makokove had announced the suspension of party provincial chairperson Joel Biggie Matiza, Women's League provincial chair Apolonia Munzverengi and Youth League chairperson Kelvin Mutsvairo in the early hours of Saturday.

Matiza subsequently turned the tables hours later after convening his own meeting of the provincial executive that fired a rival group, led by Makokove including recently-elected MP Lawrence Katsiru.

Other members whom he said had been fired were Makokove (vice-chair), Lawrence 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 had also been sacked from the Women's League.

In his address, Kasukuwere said the provincial structure which was elected into office in July elections supervised by Politburo member Edna Madzongwe remains substantive.

"In other words, the provincial structures remain the same. The issue of votes of no confidence and suspensions is caused by lack of communication, indiscipline, disrespect of party structures, kujairirana kuti party ndeyangu," said Kasukuwere who is also Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister.

He implored party members to respect the constitution of the party.

Kasukuwere said people should desist from treating the party as their personal property.

"The party is not a personal property. If you want to register your own company, you should go to the company registry. The party is a property of the people who subscribe to its ethos," he said.

Kasukuwere said people should sit down whenever there were differences and not to resort to conduct outside the constitution of the revolutionary party.

He urged Matiza to respect Provincial Affairs Minister, Retired Brigadier General Ambrose Mutinhiri and urged the latter to do the same on Matiza.

This followed allegations that Matiza was undermining Rtd Brig Gen Mutinhiri, a development that formed one of the basis for the vote of no-confidence against him.

Kasukuwere also urged provincial party members to respect Politburo member, Sydney Sekeramayi, saying he was the most senior party member in the Province.

Addressing the same meeting, Sekeramayi said it was embarrassing that provincial party members were fighting among themselves barely a few months after they had been elected into office.

"Let us be frank and honest with each other when we make slogans calling for unity. When leaders fight among themselves, there are people at the grassroots that suffer," said Sekeramayi who is also Defence Minister.

Other Politburo members present included Cdes Madzongwe, David Parirenyatwa, and Mike Bimha.