Tempers flaring in Zanu-PF political hotbed of Mash East

Tempers are flaring in the Zanu-PF political hotbed of Mashonaland East amid growing calls for a total annihilation of those linked to deposed Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

Newly appointed provincial affairs minister Joel Biggie Matiza meanwhile has declared: "I will not be intimidated," following reports his efforts at uniting the province are being hampered by continued factional fights.

Matiza who has been on a week-long whirlwind tour of the province has come face-to-face with demands that the province, renowned for its loyalty to the ruling party despite shifting fortunes elsewhere, be "cleansed" of the remnants of the Mujuru faction.

The provincial minister told hundreds in Goromonzi and Marondera yesterday that despite his "opponents" throwing spanners in the works he would stop at nothing to "bring sanity".

"As a province, we are renowned for voting Zanu-PF. We are loyal to the party but have nothing to show for it. We have not benefited from our loyalty and the leadership since 1980," said Matiza.

"We are aware that some people are trying everything in their power to stop the development that we are preaching now so that we are seen as failures. But we will move with speed and implement every government policy as well as party resolutions. We are aware that there are some amongst our ranks working with white farmers to derail our programmes, cause confusion and chaos both in the party and government. It must stop and we will not be cowed or intimidated (sic)."

From Marondera to Mutoko, Goromonzi, Mudzi, Murehwa and Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe, Matiza despite trying to stick to government business has oftentimes been asked to "get rid of the gamatox", a derisive name given to member of the faction then led by Mujuru, derived from a banned potent pesticide.

The meetings have revealed the conpicuous absence of party heavyweights in the province among them, Sidney Sekeramayi, Olivia Muchena, Paddington Zhanda and Beatrice Nyamupinga. The last two are reportedly eyeing the position of provincial chair, while most legislators reportedly have links to the vanquished Mujuru faction.

As the ruling party emerges from an energy-sapping congress that turned into a factional war lost by Mujuru and won by Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, then Justice minister, new party political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere will descend on the province tomorrow.

Kasukuwere has his work cut out and Matiza hinted there would be a "political tsunami".

"When the political commissar comes on Saturday (tomorrow), it is a chance for you to cleanse the party of all the gamatoxes at all levels of the party. You should not waste that chance," said Matiza to rapturous applause.

In Maramba-Pfungwe constituency, legislator Washington Musvaire had to be escorted out of the venue at Mutawatawa Growth Point after hordes of youths baying for his blood threatened to manhandle him.

Acting chairperson Phenias Chihota was booed in Marondera while former vice-presidential aspirant Ambrose Mutinhiri cut a forlorn figure during a tense meeting in the provincial capital.

Petronella Kagonye, the only legislator to attend the meeting in Goromonzi, said she was in harmony with Matiza's mandate which is in line with President Robert Mugabe's vision

"I have no reason not to support the provincial minister and that is why I am here. I would love for nothing but progress in my constituency," Kagonye told The Zimbabwe Mail.

Matiza said he was not in a position to deal with the hot issue of the party's structures but would support Kasukuwere's mission.

Mashonaland East, then led by Ray Kaukonde, was seen along with Mashonaland Central as the centres of Mujuru's still-born rebellion  scuttled by First Lady Grace Mugabe in the run-up to the former guerrilla movement's congress in early December last year.