Conflict within Zanu PF worries ZPP

The continuing conflict in the ruling Zanu PF is worrying the Zimbabwe Peace Project amid indications the problems started bedeviling the party since the 2014 December Congress which saw former Vice president Joice Mujuru and her cabal being ousted both from government and the party positions.

"THE restructuring exercise which the ruling Zanu-PF embarked on soon after the party 6th People's Congress in December 2014 has shored up internal fissures which have been simmering beneath the surface," reported ZPP.

"Conflict within the party has been rife following the protracted internal strife, which culminated late last year into early this year in the deposing of nine out of ten provincial chairpersons, the former Vice President, Joice Mujuru, and several ministers, among others."

ZPP said the restructuring exercise – an ambitious project to both clean out and clean up - spearheaded by Zanu-PF national political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, brought to the fore the precarious divisions existing within the party structures.

"Pitted against each other - first along the Mujuru and Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa factions, and of late with yet another camp - a
third force dubbed 'G40" (generation 40) that is allegedly aligned to the First Lady, Grace Mugabe – the Zanu-PF membership currently cultivates hate, malice and friction reign amongst themselves," reported ZPP.  "Many of the district elections, as part of the restructuring exercise, have been characterised with violence and on occasion insubordination as party members have broken into violence right in front of their national and provincial leaders, as was the case in several of Mashonaland West elections; and in Mashonaland Central."

The organisation said  violence was not limited to the two provinces, Harare, Mashonaland East also had their share of violence with the other provinces also registering internal strife albeit in milder forms.

"Violent clashes as well as the failure on the part of the ruling party to come up with enough numbers to make a quorum in certain instances, resulted in a number of districts postponing the elections," said ZPP.  "Apparently not only is there thick strife among existing members, but in other instances there just aren't the numbers – a situation which shows a troubled state for the ruling party."

ZPP reported that on the other hand, the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) had its share of internal turmoil in October.

"Conflict, albeit milder than it is in the ruling party, showed that unity of purpose is at threat in MDC-T. Known for splintering and re-splintering, the opposition party's propensity for possible splits is always present with the party leader, Morgan Tsvangirai being pitted against Kuwadzana legislator, Nelson Chamisa. Although the party still denies any rift, instances in certain areas, for example in Bulawayo following the death of Nkulumane legislator, Thamsanqa Mahlangu, among a few others, illuminate turbulences and power struggles within the party," said ZPP.