Confusion rocks Zanu-PF

As factional fights continue to rock the ruling Zanu-PF party, confusion reigned over the status of Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Temba Mliswa, allegedly fired by the party's politburo last week.

While Mashonaland West's most senior politburo member, Ignatius Chombo, announced at the weekend that Mliswa was no longer the provincial chair according to the vote of no confidence passed by the provincial executive committee, party information czar Rugare Gumbo poured cold water on weekend reports to that effect.

In a statement yesterday, Gumbo said: "The official party position pertaining the Mashonaland West province chairman Cde Temba Mliswa remains that the so called vote of no confidence in Cde Mliswa continues to be a matter that disciplinary committee is seized with in keeping with the resolution of the politburo as explained last Friday."

He said the disciplinary hearing chaired by national chair, Simon Khaya-Moyo, would deliberate on the issue and thereafter draw up recommendations for submission to the next politburo set for tomorrow.

"But none of that has happened yet and it is shocking that senior party officials who know or ought reasonably to know of the existence of these basic elementary rules of procedure are in fact completely and utterly ignorant of what needs to be done. It's a shame and a sign that desperation has really reached unprecedented and shameful levels," said Gumbo.

At least 27 out of 50 executive members passed a vote of no confidence in Mliswa but the acerbic former football fitness trainer described the move as a non-event.

The 27-party activists were led by Mliswa's deputy, Ziyambi Ziyambi who, according to weekend reports, has since taken over as the interim chairperson.

At the weekend, Chombo allegedly announced that the politburo had resolved to send Mliswa into political wilderness until the elective congress.

According to a report produced by the 27, Mliswa's leadership style was divisive and from the moment he took over as chair for the province, the region has not enjoyed any peace.

Mliswa is also accused of being part of a group of legislators now derisively referred to as the "dirty dozen" and is said to be working with the American embassy in Harare as part of the regime change agenda.

The Hurungwe West legislator has dismissed the charges.

Gumbo accused Chombo of parroting a factional statement in his weekend promnouncement.

"People might harbour certain selfish and factional agendas but rules are rules and we expect them to be followed to the latter - whether such rules are politically expedient or not," Gumbo said.

According to some Zanu-PF sources who briefed The Zimbabwe Mail   on Friday, Mliswa's fate was decided by President Mugabe who reportedly said the lawmaker should step aside until his fate is looked at by the disciplinary committee.

Zanu-PF is reportedly split between two contesting factions; one supposedly led by Vice-President Joice Mujuru and another by Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, both angling to take over from President Mugabe when he retires.

Gumbo is said to be part of the Mujuru faction, a camp where Mliswa is alleged to be a member of while Chombo and Ziyambi allegedly belong to the Mnangagwa camp.