Larry Mavhima wins Zanu-PF Midlands Chair uncontested

MIDLANDS Provincial Affairs minister Larry Mavhima becomes the first victor of the ongoing Zanu-PF catfights after he won the Midlands provincial party chairmanship following his imposition by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

NewZimbabwe.com has previously reported that Mnangagwa imposed Mavhima in a bid to quell deadly factional fights in his home province, pitting camps aligned to provincial heavyweights Joram Gumbo and July Moyo.

Mavhima is taking over from Daniel Mackenzie-Ncube who decided not to seek re-election. Another contestant, State Security minister Owen Mudha Ncube, pulled out of the race at Mnangagwa's behest.

"His victory was endorsed by the politburo on Tuesday and so that is a done deal," a source said.

"Mavhima is faced with a herculean task of unifying the province which is battling serious factionalism ahead of the 2023 elections. This is the president's home province, and it must lead by example in terms of unity and working cohenetly," the source added.

Meanwhile, the race for the provincial chairwoman's position is a two-horse race between current Perseverance Zhou and Tsitsi Zhou, with the former apparently leading.