Zanu-PF to recall G40 left overs from Parliament

The Zanu-PF provincial leadership in Masvingo wants four MPs to be recalled from Parliament while Mashonaland East has recommended 13 senior officials to be redeployed for being foot soldiers of the G40 faction.

The recalls are expected to claim the scalp of former Foreign Affairs Minister Engineer Walter Mzembi.

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Ezra Chadzamira said Eng Mzembi - who is the Masvingo South legislator - together with ex-Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Dr Paul Chimedza (Gutu South), former provincial political commissar Jappy Jaboon (Bikita South) and ex-deputy secretary for transport in the Politburo Dr Daniel Shumba (Masvingo Urban) would soon be recalled from Parliament.

The quartet was expelled from Zanu-PF together with other members of the G40 cabal that were allegedly abusing their proximity to the then President Mugabe to foment confusion in the ruling party.

Speaking during a Zanu-PF provincial coordinating committee meeting in Masvingo on Sunday, Chadzamira said processes were already underway to make sure the four were recalled from Parliament.

"We have already made contact with Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri (Zanu-PF national chairperson) concerning the fate of Mzembi, Shumba, Chimedza and Jaboon so that they are recalled from Parliament since they were sacked from the party and something is being done about that," he said.

Eng Mzembi had a very short stint as Foreign Affairs Minister until his ouster following the launch of Operation Restore Legacy by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.

Prior to that, Eng Mzembi served as Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister and had been Masvingo South legislator since 2005.

Dr Chimedza had a short spell as the minister responsible for Masvingo, a post he assumed following the death of national heroine Shuvai Mahofa.

He was first elected Gutu South legislator in a 2011 by-election held to fill a vacant seat after the death of MDC-T legislator Professor Eliphas Mukonoweshuro. Mr Jaboon was elected Bikita South legislator in the 2013 harmonised elections, while Dr Shumba was elected on a Zanu-PF ticket to represent Masvingo Urban.

Chadzamira said the ruling party was eyeing to retain all the 26 House of Assembly seats in the province. He said the Masvingo party leadership wanted at least 72 percent of the anticipated 800 000 registrants under the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system to vote for Zanu-PF in the 2018 polls.

"While we are generally satisfied with the number of people who have registered under the BVR system, we are still concerned over the low number of people who registered to vote in Gutu District," he said

Chadzamira said more campaigns would be held in Gutu to encourage more people to register under the BVR system.

He said the recent extension of the registration exercise was another window for Zanu-PF to make sure more people registered.

The provincial leadership in Mashonaland East has recommended the redeployment of 13 senior party leaders who were accused of being aligned to the G40 cabal.

Addressing journalists after a meeting on Monday, provincial secretary for Information and Publicity, Kenneth Mutiwekuziva, said the 13 members had since been replaced.

"Following the PCC meeting in Mashonaland East held on November 26, 2017, the following comrades have been redeployed elsewhere and they have since been replaced," he said.

The top leaders who were redeployed include Marondera Central legislator Lawrence Katsiru, who was demoted from his post as Secretary for Administration, Goromonzi South legislator and Women's League secretary for Transport Welfare Beatar Nyamupinga and Marondera East legislator and deputy secretary for security Jeremiah Chiwetu, and vice-chairman Bernard Makokove.

Other leaders who were redeployed include secretary for production Foster Gwanzura, secretary for gender and culture Godfrey Chikono, committee member Everest Pfumvuti, secretary for Education Letwin Kanengoni, secretary for Environment Lydia Kakono and secretary for production Trisha Vito. Katsiru has been replaced by Thomas Chinyama, while Makokove's post has been given to Admire Rusere and Chiwetu has been replaced by Muzondiwa Malaba.

Zanu-PF Mashonaland East political commissar Herbert Shumbamhini said provincial executive members had started visiting districts for restructuring purposes.

"Following our management meeting today we have lined up inter-district meetings starting from Hwedza to give our members feedback from the extra-ordinary congress also explain to them about the new era," he said.

"We are also going to restructure from cell, district up to branch. We are also going to incorporate freedom fighters who were once side-lined by the G40 cabal."