Didymus Mutasa ouster sparks wild celebrations

Embattled Zanu-PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa  has lost his seat in the central committee after suffering a humiliating defeat on elections held on Monday, sparking wide celebrations in his home town of Rusape.

Mutasa, who has been under fire from Zanu-PF hawks for allegedly plotting to assassinate President Robert Mugabe, now has his political life at the mercy of the president's benevolence for appointment into the central committee.

Mutasa, Manicaland's self proclaimed political godfather, was shown the red card by party voters in Makoni who opted for Mandi Chimene, Patrick Chinamasa, Florence Majachani and Joseph Made to represent them in the central committee, the party's highest decision-making board in between congresses.

According to results of the central committee elections, Mutasa received the lowest votes in Makoni District, landing 85 against 165 for Made. Little known Majachani garnered 84 votes more than those of Mutasa.  Chinamasa received 177 votes for a seat in the central committee while Chimene received 149 and with that got herself a ticket into the party organ.

There were wild jubilations soon after the results were announced, with party cadres celebrating Mutasa's downfall.

Mutasa joined the league of other bigwigs who have fallen by the wayside as allegations of being part of Vice-President Joice Mujuru's faction accused of plotting to overthrow President Mugabe.

In Bulawayo, former Matabeleland South governor Angeline Masuku lost to aspiring party vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko and Charles Chiponda, who is the party's provincial secretary for indiginisation.

Chiponda cruised to victory in the first round of voting, garnering 31 votes against Masuku's four votes. Mphoko got an assailable 40 votes. Maggie Mukasi, Nacisio Makhulumo, Constance Ndlovu and George Tshabangu fell by the wayside.

In Area Four, Former Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson, Killia Sibanda, was elected unopposed to the central committee.

Elections were still going on in some areas in Bulawayo at the time of going to press.

In Mashonaland West, war veteran leader Christopher Mutsvangwa, also fell by way side to Lydia Tsomondo.

Party heavyweights in Matabeleland North,  Obert Mpofu,  Jonathan Moyo, Sithembiso Nyoni and  Cain Mathema sailed through unopposed, while Samuel Mugandi from Binga fell by the wayside in elections for members of the central committee.

Zanu-PF Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Richard Moyo confirmed the results.

"We managed to have the elections in all districts in under a peaceful atmosphere and party members in the province should be commended for this," he said.  

"We have 23 central committee members."

Moyo said in Umguza, politburo member Mpofu, who is also Transport and Infrastructural Development minister and his wife Senator Sikhanyisiwe Mpofu, were elected unopposed.

Sen Mpofu was elected on a women's quota ticket.

Wilson Tshuma beat Ruth Kabitchi 42 to 10 to land the third central committee position in Umguza.

Elizabeth Maluku, who is in the party's national youth league, completed the line-up of central committee members in Umguza.

In, Tsholotsho, Moyo said politburo members, Moyo, who is also Information, Media and Broadcasting Services minister and Cain Mathema, who is also State Minister responsible for Provincial Affairs, were also elected unopposed.

Alice Dube was also elected unopposed on the women's quota with Alois Ndebele also uncontested for the fourth central committee position in Tsholotsho.

Moyo said recently elected Deputy Chairman of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association was elected unopposed to be a central committee member for Lupane with Mail Nkomo also uncontested on the women's quota seat.

The other two seats went to Coleen Ndebele who garnered 44 votes and Girls Ndlovu who had 37 while Bernard Dlodlo who had seven votes fell by the wayside.

The provincial chairman said in Hwange Speaker of the  National Assembly Jacob Mudenda and Fathi Mpofu were elected unopposed while Thokozile Mathuthu, as a member of the national women's league, becomes the third central committee member in the district.

In Nkayi, Politburo member and Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises, Nyoni sailed unopposed to claim the women's quota seat, while Alec Nyakuwara becomes a central committee member by virtue of being a member of the national youth league.

Charter Mguni won the third seat after garnering 40 votes in a contest in which Gift Nyama and Esau Siyabalandela got 26 and five votes respectively.

In Binga, Rebecca Fanuel was elected uncontested on the women's quota ticket, while Samuel Mugande lost to Joshua Muzambi after getting 31 votes compared to Muzambi's  51.

The other contestants Joe Mudimba and David Maswabi only managed zero and one respectively.

In Bubi, Clifford Sibanda and Lot Mbambo where elected unopposed while Don Sibanda becomes the third central committee member by virtue of being in the national women's league.