Zanu-PF to probe Manicaland chaos

Zanu-PF has vowed to investigate disturbances that disrupted a Manicaland Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) meeting in Mutare yesterday, as senior party officials warned that indiscipline during party business will not be tolerated.

The meeting ended prematurely after it degenerated into chaos, with rival factions confronting each other and trading accusations, forcing proceedings to be abandoned.

Zanu-PF Secretary for Security, Lovemore Matuke, said the party leadership was awaiting a full report on the incident before taking action.

"Zanu-PF will not tolerate such behaviour during party business. We are waiting to get a detailed report on what exactly happened," Matuke said in an interview last night.

Party Secretary for Information and Publicity, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, was more forthright, blaming what he described as detractors attempting to destabilise the party in Manicaland.

"Detractors have consistently regarded Manicaland as the soft underbelly of Zanu-PF in their futile efforts to infiltrate the party of the permanent Zimbabwe revolution," Ambassador Mutsvangwa said.

"There are elements that are woefully mistimed and misaligned. The party leadership will not tolerate such behaviour within its rank and file."

Mutsvangwa accused the party's opponents of using "dirty tricks" to undermine what he described as the achievements of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and the Second Republic.

"The writ of President Mnangagwa over the party is as strong as can be. His communion with the electorate is at an all-time high, as is being demonstrated in a continuous string of by-election victories," he said.

"The nefarious boll weevils attempting to infiltrate and subvert Manicaland, the province of decisive revolutionary heroism, are making a terrible mistake. President Mnangagwa has seen and crossed every shenanigan of party malfeasance and is ready to deal with misguided troublemakers."

The chaos unfolded during a closed-door PEC meeting at the Rekayi Tangwena Government Complex, chaired by Zanu-PF Manicaland provincial chairperson, Tawanda Mukodza.

Proceedings reportedly broke down after disagreements emerged over a state of the party report presented by the provincial political commissar, Albert Nyakuedzwa.

Buhera West legislator, Tafadzwa Mugwadi, was contributing to the discussion when Mukodza ordered him to confine his remarks strictly to the contents of the report. Mugwadi reportedly resisted, insisting on making broader submissions.

Supporters of Mugwadi interjected, challenging the chairperson to allow him to speak freely. Mukodza stood his ground, asserting his authority as chair, prompting counter-interjections from members backing him.

The exchange escalated into shouting, desk-banging and personal exchanges, forcing Mukodza to call off the meeting and walk out of the boardroom.

However, members opposed to Mukodza's leadership reportedly refused to disperse and instead nominated provincial secretary for administration, Sam Matema, to chair the meeting in his absence.

As discussions continued, a group stormed the boardroom, disrupted proceedings and ordered members to leave, arguing that the meeting had already been officially called off by the chairperson.

Witnesses said the intruders climbed onto tables, banged chairs and desks and insisted that no further business could be conducted.

The party leadership is now expected to assess reports from Manicaland and determine disciplinary action, amid growing concern over factional tensions within the province.