Zanu-PF provincial chairman in hot soup

Zanu-PF Masvingo chair Brigadier-General (Retired) Killian Gwanetsa faces disciplinary action for discussing a provincial list of preferred leaders that will be tabled at the party's National Congress in December.

This contravenes a party position for all provinces to await guidance on the selection of Central Committee candidates.

In August, Gwanetsa announced that the province had nominated national chair Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo as Second Vice President and the secretary for administration, Didymus Mutasa, as the former's successor.

He later claimed that this was his personal opinion and not a provincial position.

And last Wednesday, he took advantage of Chiredzi East legislator Denford Masiya's election victory celebrations to reaffirm Masvingo's preferred candidates.

The province's Minister of State, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, and Politburo member Dzikamai Mavhaire were scheduled to attend the event, but did not turn up.

Gwanetsa told the gathering at Rupangwana Training Centre that the two senior party officials' failure to attend was due to "the blowing winds".

Among those in attendance were provincial Women's League chair Shylet Uyoyo and Chiredzi West legislator Darlington Chiwa.

He said: "As Masvingo province, we had endorsed that the President, RG Mugabe, will be our candidate followed by his VP, Mai Mujuru, and that won't change."

Contacted yesterday, Gwanetsa declined commenting and referred questions to party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo.

"I am not making any comments in newspapers these days. I don't want to comment. You can talk to Gumbo," he said.

Gumbo, in turn, said defiance such as Gwanetsa's warranted discipline.

"We haven't issued a directive for nominations yet. We will announce the dates soon. Therefore, what Gwanetsa did was campaigning and it's against what the President said last month," said Gumbo.

"But I really don't know much about whether he campaigned or not. We will find out."

Ambassador Khaya Moyo, who heads the party's national disciplinary committee, could not be reached for comment.

A Politburo member, who preferred anonymity because the matter is pending, however, said Gwanetsa should be disciplined.

There is something wrong with this chair. He needs to be charged and must explain himself. His activities are ultra vires the party position."

Women's League secretary for security Shuvai Mahofa yesterday condemned Gwanetsa for going against President Mugabe's directive to suspend campaigns.

He (Gwanetsa) is mischievous. Remember, he once drew up a list of his preferred candidates and told the world that it was the province's choice.

As the chair, Gwanetsa must behave and lead by example...ane musikanzwa Gwanetsa," she said.

At the celebrations, Gwanetsa said the post of Women's League secretary was "not special" (as it was being portrayed) n an apparent attack on First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe who has been nominated for the position.

Some of the women who had been bused to the venue were heard shouting "pamberi negamatox", a statement read to support Mutasa.

Uyoyo questioned why men were endorsing Dr Mugabe when women had already done so. She also alleged that Dr Mugabe was being used, adding that she would stop "the manipulators".