Zanu-PF Manicaland boss on warpath

Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial chairperson Mike Madiro has been accused of purging his rivals and replacing them with his close allies during the ongoing party restructuring exercise in order to retain his post in the upcoming provincial elections.

According to party insiders, Madiro faces stiff competition from Makoni district co-ordinating committee chairperson Albert Nyakuedzwa and Chipinge South MP Enock Porusingazi.

Concerns have been raised in various parts of the province, in particular, Chipinge, Zimunya and Marange districts, among others, with Madiro's rivals claiming that they were being targeted in the restructuring exercise.

"We have finished restructuring our cells and are only left with verifying, but we are receiving complaints from various districts such as Zimunya, Marange, Jechera branch ward one in Nyamajura.

"We have many cases and in Chipinge rural ward 9 in Muguyo village, we have leaders who were removed from their positions by Madiro," a Zanu-PF official who declined to be named for fear of victimisation, said.

"These people are being appointed so that they will be involved in provincial elections and help Madiro retain his position as Manicaland provincial chairperson," the source added.

Last week, war veterans and their affiliates accused Madiro of failing to unite the party.

Irked by the war veterans' utterances, Madiro has reportedly ordered an urgent provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting in Mutare today where fireworks are expected.

"We are going to have our provincial coordination committee meeting on Saturday (today) in Mutare and a lot of issues are going to be discussed and one of the agenda we are going to discuss is about the preparations of the annual people's conference," the source said.

"It's most likely the issue of provincial elections is going to be discussed, there is a lot of infighting going on, as you are aware no one has been told to campaign but people are doing so," he said.

Madiro confirmed today's meeting which he said would be used to address "those matters" which he refused to comment on.

"Wait until Saturday, I am having a meeting. After the meeting, I am going to address you on an array of issues," Madiro said.