Zanu-PF Midlands conducts hearings

THE Zanu-PF Midlands Province has started hearings for the three provincial members accused of verbally abusing recently appointed ministers whom they are allegedly denigrating and denouncing in public, labelling them members of the Generation 40 (G40).

This follows a directive from National Political Commissar, Savior Kasukuwere to investigate provincial secretary for security Owen "Mudha" Ncube, youth chairperson Edmore Samambwa and the provincial youth league secretary for administration Justice Mayor Wadyajena over alleged misconduct after Ministers Makhosini Hlongwane, Anastasia Ndlovu and Tapiwa Matangaidze filed a complaint with the commissariat alleging harassment by fellow provincial members following their recent appointments.

Midlands provincial chairman Kizito Chivamba said the hearings were scheduled for the weekend according to the disciplinary committee which was tasked to investigate and deliberate on the matter before making recommendations.

"I am not the right person to comment over such matters at the moment because I do not want to interfere with the goings on as far as the hearings are concerned. Deputy chairman Daniel Mackenzie Ncube is the one who should be giving official statements to the media as far as the hearings are concerned. However, I was advised that the hearings will be conducted this weekend. I haven't been advised otherwise," he said.

Sources in the party told Sunday News that the three ministers were subpoenaed yesterday while the accused will be summoned for the hearings today.

"The hearings will be at the provincial offices tomorrow (today). The three ministers were summoned today (yesterday)," said the source.

 Hlongwane, Ndlovu, Matangaidze wrote a letter to Kasukuwere, which was also copied to Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko, seeking protection from their colleagues whom they accused of vilifying, undermining as well as denouncing them in public.

Kasukuwere responded through a letter instructing the province to set up a disciplinary committee that would preside over the matter not later than 11 January, 2016. However, the province sought more time from the PC since there was communication break down over the matter. In the letter the trio accused Cdes Ncube, Samambwa and Wadyajena of denigrating them alongside other party leaders Kasukuwere, Patrick Zhuwao and Professor Jonathan Moyo.

It was alleged in the letter that Ncube chanted slogans during a meeting at the provincial party office denigrating the trio as well as the three Politburo members while Wadyajena accused Matangaidze and the two fellow ministers of being part of G40 and blocking the ascendancy of Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The trio alleged that the provincial members alleged that their appointment was G40 motivated.

"We the undersigned, are writing to you in your capacity as national secretary for the commissariat, charged with the responsibility of maintaining order and discipline within the party. Since the appointments, we have been under incessant attacks from Owen Mudha Ncube (secretary for security in the Midlands Province), Justice Mayor Wadyajena (secretary for administration in the Midlands youth league), Edmore Samambwa (the youth provincial chairman) and other members of the Youth League who allege our appointments were G40-motivated. Ncube once chanted slogans during a meeting at the party office where he said pasi naMatangaidze, pasi naMakhosini Hlongwane, pasi naAnastasia Ndlovu, pasi naKasukuwere, pasi naZhuwao, pasi naJonathan Moyo," reads part of the letter.

The trio further alleged that they have been threatened with violence by Ncube and his "hired" thugs.

"It must be pointed out that the idea of clubbing all ministers in the Midlands Province into submission, is designed to remove their loyalty from President Robert Mugabe to submit them to an alternative narrative," reads the letter.