News / National
Mugabe fears Chiyangwa could spy on him
01 Apr 2012 at 10:33hrs | Views
PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe personally blocked Philip Chiyangwa's ascendancy to the post of vice-chairman in Mashonaland West province during the party's politburo meeting recently, authoritative sources said.
The sources said Mugabe queried why the business mogul was suddenly elevated when the party had resolved that he be re-admitted as an ordinary card-carrying member.
They said Mugabe, who was visibly angry during last Wednesday's meeting, took a swipe at Zanu-PF Mashonaland West politburo members, for failing to stamp their authority in the province.
"Mugabe felt that Chiyangwa could have used his vast influence to fast track his ascendancy while other party cadres were being denied the opportunity," said one source. "He has also spoke against imposition of candidates."
Chiyangwa, said sources in Zanu-PF, could have managed to work his way back into provincial leadership by exploiting factionalism rocking the province.
But other sources said Mugabe has never liked Chiyangwa following his arrest and acquittal on allegations of selling state secrets to foreign agents.
Zanu-PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, played down the issue yesterday saying the position taken on Chiyangwa was by consensus.
"We sat as a politburo late last year and admitted Chiyangwa back into the party only as an ordinary card-carrying member and then we discussed the issue on Wednesday after hearing that he was elected vice-chairman in the province," said Gumbo.
"We agreed as a party that he will remain a party's card-carrying member only until the party thinks otherwise, meaning that his election is null and void."
In 2009, Chiyangwa appeared in court charged with selling official State secrets to South African intelligence agents.
At the time, the state-run Herald newspaper broke the story on the former Chinhoyi legislator's whereabouts with a banner headline 'Spy ring smashed'.
The paper said; "A spy ring allegedly involving flamboyant businessman and Chinhoyi legislator Phillip Chiyangwa and three others has been smashed," the paper said.
Chiyangwa appeared before a Harare magistrates court amid rumours that he had suffered a stroke, was in a coma or dead after being tortured by Zimbabwe's secret agents.
President Robert Mugabe's nephew, Chiyangwa, and the other men appeared separately before magistrate Peter Kumbawa.
The then Zimbabwe's ambassador-designate to Mozambique Godfrey Dzvairo, Metropolitan Bank company secretary Tendai Matambanadzo (Tich Mataz's brother), and Zanu-PF external affairs director Itai Marchi were brought to court in leg irons before Kumbawa asked the guards to unshackle them.
The four were charged under Section 4 of the Official Secrets Act.
Chiyangwa's bid to run for MP in Chinhoyi suffered a major reversal this week after the Zanu PF politburo and central committee nullified his election as the party's vice chairman in Mashonaland West.
The property tycoon beat Reuben Marumahoko on March 16 in an internal Zanu PF vote, and many thought that marked the end of his rehabilitation after his expulsion in 2006.
Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said: "There were reports recently that Comrade Chiyangwa was elected as the vice chairman for Mashonaland West province.
"The politburo on Wednesday reviewed that case and nullified the election. The decision was endorsed by the Central Committee on Friday.
"Comrade Chiyangwa will remain as an ordinary member of the party until further notice."
Zanu PF expelled Chiyangwa on March 20, 2006, exactly two years after he was charged with espionage, although he was acquitted by a High Court judge in 2005.
The Zanu PF constitution says a member cannot be re-admitted into the party until after five years have lapsed since their expulsion.
Chiyangwa's expired last year and he was re-admitted into the party last November as an ordinary member, but it appears Zanu PF is determined to extend his pain by blocking him from holding office.
After his purported election, Chiyangwa had set his eyes on the Chinhoyi parliamentary seat, but those plans now appear in jeopardy.
The sources said Mugabe queried why the business mogul was suddenly elevated when the party had resolved that he be re-admitted as an ordinary card-carrying member.
They said Mugabe, who was visibly angry during last Wednesday's meeting, took a swipe at Zanu-PF Mashonaland West politburo members, for failing to stamp their authority in the province.
"Mugabe felt that Chiyangwa could have used his vast influence to fast track his ascendancy while other party cadres were being denied the opportunity," said one source. "He has also spoke against imposition of candidates."
Chiyangwa, said sources in Zanu-PF, could have managed to work his way back into provincial leadership by exploiting factionalism rocking the province.
But other sources said Mugabe has never liked Chiyangwa following his arrest and acquittal on allegations of selling state secrets to foreign agents.
Zanu-PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo, played down the issue yesterday saying the position taken on Chiyangwa was by consensus.
"We sat as a politburo late last year and admitted Chiyangwa back into the party only as an ordinary card-carrying member and then we discussed the issue on Wednesday after hearing that he was elected vice-chairman in the province," said Gumbo.
"We agreed as a party that he will remain a party's card-carrying member only until the party thinks otherwise, meaning that his election is null and void."
In 2009, Chiyangwa appeared in court charged with selling official State secrets to South African intelligence agents.
At the time, the state-run Herald newspaper broke the story on the former Chinhoyi legislator's whereabouts with a banner headline 'Spy ring smashed'.
The paper said; "A spy ring allegedly involving flamboyant businessman and Chinhoyi legislator Phillip Chiyangwa and three others has been smashed," the paper said.
President Robert Mugabe's nephew, Chiyangwa, and the other men appeared separately before magistrate Peter Kumbawa.
The then Zimbabwe's ambassador-designate to Mozambique Godfrey Dzvairo, Metropolitan Bank company secretary Tendai Matambanadzo (Tich Mataz's brother), and Zanu-PF external affairs director Itai Marchi were brought to court in leg irons before Kumbawa asked the guards to unshackle them.
The four were charged under Section 4 of the Official Secrets Act.
Chiyangwa's bid to run for MP in Chinhoyi suffered a major reversal this week after the Zanu PF politburo and central committee nullified his election as the party's vice chairman in Mashonaland West.
The property tycoon beat Reuben Marumahoko on March 16 in an internal Zanu PF vote, and many thought that marked the end of his rehabilitation after his expulsion in 2006.
Zanu PF spokesman Rugare Gumbo said: "There were reports recently that Comrade Chiyangwa was elected as the vice chairman for Mashonaland West province.
"The politburo on Wednesday reviewed that case and nullified the election. The decision was endorsed by the Central Committee on Friday.
"Comrade Chiyangwa will remain as an ordinary member of the party until further notice."
Zanu PF expelled Chiyangwa on March 20, 2006, exactly two years after he was charged with espionage, although he was acquitted by a High Court judge in 2005.
The Zanu PF constitution says a member cannot be re-admitted into the party until after five years have lapsed since their expulsion.
Chiyangwa's expired last year and he was re-admitted into the party last November as an ordinary member, but it appears Zanu PF is determined to extend his pain by blocking him from holding office.
After his purported election, Chiyangwa had set his eyes on the Chinhoyi parliamentary seat, but those plans now appear in jeopardy.
Source - news
