Zanu-PF suspends provincial elections

The battle to take control of Zanu-PF party at provincial level took another twist over the weekend after indefinite suspension of provincial elections , a move seen as a way to block aspiring candidates from taking up top positions as the party gears for 2023 harmonized elections.

Masvingo province being the political hot bed for factional fights in both Zanu-PF and MDC, the warring factions one allegedly led by former police boss and provincial vice chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa and the other one by incumbent provincial chair Ezra Chadzamira.

The elections are believed to have been rescheduled to a later date most likely to be in 2022.

The guest-of-honor at the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) held in Masvingo recently, Secretary for Gender in the politburo and Bindura North MP Kenneth Musanhi reiterated that no one was supposed to campaign for any position as provincial elections had been shelved.

"Provincial elections are not due so no one should be seen campaigning for any positions. Even MPs or councilors are still there and no one should campaign for those positions as well. If anyone is seen campaigning they will face disciplinary action," said Musanhi.

He went on to say Masvingo should lead in terms of abiding by the party constitution as party secretary for legal affairs Paul Mangwana hails from the province.

"Masvingo should lead in terms of knowing the constitution; you have Cde Mangwana who is a law guru. He is leading in amending the party constitution so you should be ahead, therefore we do not except you to break the law," said Musanhi.

As if acknowledging the factional fights, he went on to say the meeting was meant to unite people, after which he endorsed party provincial chairperson Ezra Chadzamira's leadership, saying he was voted several times and won despite rigging by purported G40 members.

"You had several elections here and Cde Chadzamira won on all those. If God wants you to lead no one can stop you that is why he is still here. Please avoid power struggles; they are not healthy at all. I was once in the same situation so hear from me," said Musanhi.

On his part Mangwana also warned people against breaking the party laws saying sitting in a disciplinary hearing involving people from Masvingo was the most difficult task for him.

"The most difficult situation for me is sitting in a disciplinary meeting involving people from here. You are expected to be well disciplined and follow party regulations. People should stop campaigning for posts because it is against party regulations, let us wait until the time comes to avoid disciplinary action," said Mangwana

The meeting however almost ended in chaos after Chivi North MP Mathias Tongofa stood up, just after he had asked someone to give the closing prayer, and told Chadzamira that there were previous issues which had to be ironed out before the party could move forward.

"We were talking a lot about discipline in this meeting but people are not practicing it. There are many issues which need to be addressed and they emanate from the chaotic District Coordinating Committee (DCC) elections.

Chadzamira however chose to be diplomatic and said other issues were going to be discussed some other time saying they should stick to the agenda of the meeting amid shouts from the attendants with some telling Tongofa to sit down while others were saying he should be allowed to speak.

Other people who are allegedly eyeing the provincial chairperson post are Mavhenyengwa's Zaka counterpart Clemence Chiduwa who chairs Zaka DCC and Rtd Major General Gibson Mashingaidze who hails from Bikita.

The suspension of the elections come during a period in which alleged intra-party fighting and factional warring has taken centre stage in the revolutionary party.