Cde Gamatox' booted out, Mnangagwa camp celebrates

ZANU-PF heavyweight - secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa was yesterday embarrassingly booted out of the party's central committee elections held in Manicaland, a development which sparked wild celebrations from a section linked to his rival faction led by Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Mutasa is linked to a camp led by Joice Mujuru.

Mutasa failed to garner enough votes to return to the central committee, a defeat that could spell political disaster for the Zanu-PF's fourth top official who had set his eyes on the party's national chairmanship post.

Four seats were being contested for in the central committee in Makoni district, and Mutasa - considered the Manicaland political godfather - fell by the wayside.

While Mutasa lost, his nemesis and former Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial chairman Mike Madiro bounced back, winning a central committee seat, marking a dramatic comeback after a short period in the political wilderness.

In an interview, Mutasa conceded defeat, but he alleged that deputy secretary for youth affairs Kudzi Chipanga and Chimene had ganged up against him resulting in his loss.

Mutasa said despite his loss, he would be at a provincial coordinating committee meeting today where sources revealed party members were plotting to bar him from the venue.

Zanu-PF officials revealed last night that the news of Mutasa's defeat had been greeted by wild celebrations with some ruling party supporters toyi-toying in the streets shouting "Makoni district has been liberated".