Zanu-PF meeting disrupted, members trade blows

THE Zanu-PF Provincial Co-ordinating Committee meeting was disrupted yesterday by some rowdy elements, who gatecrashed it, resulting in members trading blows.

The meeting was held at the party's provincial headquarters, Davies Hall.

The provincial leadership had called the PCC meeting to iron out some issues in the province and to strategise on how to win the next harmonised elections.

There were also reports that there were some sections of party supporters that wanted to push for a vote of no confidence on the substantive provincial chairman,  Killian Sibanda, on accusations of suspending provincial secretary for finance,  Simon Khabo, recently.

There were other dirty skirmishes on Saturday at the same venue when some youths shouted obscenities at  Sibanda, resulting in the National Chairman  Simon Khaya Moyo, stepping in to bring order.

Yesterday, commotion ensued when Central Committee and Politburo members had finished their closed-door meeting and were ready to address supporters.

As it was announced that only those eligible to sit in the PCC meeting should remain in the hall while the majority went outside, some members started arguing that there were some who had bulldozed their way in. They also accused the leadership of being selective.

Dozens of youths led by members of the interim provincial committee forced their way in and started singing revolutionary songs and dancing in front of Politburo and Central Committee members who were already seated and ready to start the meeting.

The argument degenerated into a fist- fight and some ended up picking stones and chairs, which they used to hit each other as the situation turned ugly.

Politburo and Central Committee members had to scurry for cover and hid in adjourning offices while some dashed out of the hall through the back door and drove off in their cars.

Police were called in to quell the situation and two youths, identified as Calloghn Mutendereki and Farai Mutheliso, who are members of the interim youth committee, which was ushered in a few months ago when the youth provincial leadership was dissolved, were arrested.

Police had to close the gates to contain the situation and later drove all party members out of the premises.

Some members said party members who wanted to protect  Khabo, accused of misusing party funds, were behind the rowdy behaviour.

"The problem emanated from the interim youth leadership and we wonder why they want to defend somebody who is facing allegations of misusing party funds," said an angry party member.

Another party member alleged that some youths were paid by some senior members to disrupt the meeting to discredit  Sibanda.

Politburo and Central Committee members later returned to the offices and held a closed-door meeting.

In an interview soon after the skirmishes, the party's provincial commissar,  Silas Dlomo, said there was too much interference in the provincial leadership and suspected that there were some people who were pushing certain agendas. "As you can see we are also at a loss of words. The meeting was disrupted by rowdy interim youth leaders. It seems they have an agenda because this started yesterday when they behaved in a similar way - singing and dancing.

"Today, they brought some people and I have a feeling that some Central Committee and Politburo members are behind it because they do not want  Sibanda," said  Dlomo.

Asked to comment on reports that the meeting was meant to "fire"  Sibanda,  Dlomo said: "We feel they had come to do something because you could tell that there were some instructions coming from somewhere through the phone."

Briefing journalists soon after a closed-door meeting, Politburo member Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, played down the incident and said they had made some recommendations, which they would present to the Politburo.

He could not be drawn into commenting further on the skirmishes.

"We met as the leadership to review developments in our province with a view to making sure we win the general elections," said Dr Ndlovu.

"The National Chairman was here yesterday and said we should convene a PCC meeting to strategise but the issue now is that we should try and find strategies of winning elections. About what happened, we have been instructed to report to the Politburo. There is nothing I can say because the decision is that we brief the Politburo."

s Angeline Masuku, Joshua Malinga, Callistus Ndlovu, David Ndlovu, Dennis Ndlovu, Elphas Tshuma, Godfrey Malaba, Ophah Ncube, Fidelia Maphosa, Nelly Dupute and Violet Ncube were some of the Politburo and Central Committee members who were at the meeting.

Meanwhile, contrary to media reports yesterday,  Khaya Moyo said it was not true that he had called for a meeting of provincial chairpersons, but instead a PCC one at Davies Hall.

"How could I call for a meeting of provincial chairpersons at the party's provincial headquarters? There was no truth in that story at all. It was very misleading," said  Khaya Moyo.