Mnangagwa allies calls for G-40 expulsion

ZANU-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere's position looks increasingly shaky within the ruling party amid growing calls to have the position allocated to "someone with liberation war credentials".
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Kasukuwere is believed to be the brawn behind a Zanu-PF faction that is dead set against Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa's bid to succeed President Robert Mugabe.

The group going by the name Generation 40 (G40) also reportedly includes Higher Education Minister Jonathan Moyo and Mugabe's relatives Patrick Zhuwao and Philip Chiyangwa.

At the weekend Mnangagwa's Midlands political bastion; led the way demanding an investigation into the operations of the G40 faction, as part of resolutions passed at an inter-district meeting.

"To investigate and expose suspected G40 gangsters ringleaders Hon Kasukuwere, Prof Jonathan Moyo, Hon Patrick Zhuwawo, Cde Philip Chiyangwa who have been widely referred to as the kingpins and they have not rebutted and or took corrective measures to distance themselves and disown the cabal," the resolution reportedly read out by Gokwe Nembudziya lawmaker Justice Mayor Wadyajena demanded.

Wadyajena is an ardent Mnangagwa follower and has had bitter exchanges with Moyo, in particular, on social media.

 
Also targeted for investigation is deputy secretary for youth affairs Kudzai Chipanga in the Zanu-PF politburo for "fanning factionalism".

"He is also suspected of having strong links with the (Joice) Mujuru (former VP) and (Didymus) Mutasa People First project and leaking confidential minutes of the politburo to hostile press making him a potential candidate for espionage and western agent if he already in not one," the resolutions said.

Mujuru was axed from Zanu-PF towards the end of last year as part of a brutal purge as factional fight escalated.

She, along with her lieutenants among them Mutasa and then spokesperson Rugare Gumbo, stood accused of plotting to oust Mugabe by foul means. They have denied the charges.

Kasukuwere has also had frosty relations with the country's belligerent liberation war veterans after he took pot-shots at them and described some of them as "drunks".

The comments drew the ire of the former fighters who have been baying for his blood ever since. There have been reports that they are planning a demonstration against the national commissar. Mugabe is the patron of the former fighters and a member of the group.

The Midlands youth league also echoed the sentiments of the war veterans who last week demanded that the position Kasukuwere is holding is too "influential to be held by someone without liberation war credentials".

The provincial league called for respect for "our liberators the revered war veterans" and is now agitating for a no confidence vote in "anyone associated with G40".

"The league further advocates that the office of the national commissar be occupied by a comrade with proven liberation war credentials," the group said.

Zanu-PF is preparing for its annual conference that insiders claim could be turned into an elective mini-congress as the pushing and shoving for Mugabe's throne intensifies.