'Obert Mpofu didn't fire Mudenda, Nyoni'

Zanu-PF provincial chairperson for Matabeleland North Richard Moyo on Monday absolved Transport minister Obert Mpofu of allegations that he instigated the recommendation to recall two politburo members, Jacob Mudenda and Sithembiso Nyoni, from the central committee.

State media reports on Monday accused Mpofu, who is in charge of Zanu-PF Matabeleland North congress preparations, of "unilaterally and unprocedurally" orchestrating   the withdrawal of the nomination to the central committee of Mudenda, who is also Speaker of the National Assembly, to "aid his bid to the post of national chairman".

Ironically, Matabeleland North recommended that the party's constitution should be amended to allow the leader of the party, in this case President Robert Mugabe, to handpick his deputies and national chairperson.

The reports also claimed that Mudenda, Nyoni and other politburo members, Thokozile Mathuthu, Professor Jonathan Moyo and Cain Mathema were not part of the meeting that recommended the ouster of the party bigwigs and were said to be "outraged" by the decision.

In an interview yesterday, Moyo said the decision to recommend the recall of Mudenda and Nyoni was not made by Mpofu.

"As I told you on Sunday, the decision was made by the joint provincial council, which includes members of the main youth and women's wings, and Mpofu does not sit in that body. The decision was reported to the inter-district meeting, that is where politburo members, including Mpofu, Nyoni and (Thokozile) Mathuthu attended and the report was unanimously adopted," Moyo said.  "Those politburo members who did not attend were aware of the inter-district meeting and sent their apologies. As a joint provincial council, we took the decision because Mudenda and Fathi Mpofu have for the past two months been sponsoring demonstrations by some Hwange elements."

Some Zanu-PF  members from  Hwange,    led by George Chipere – who admitted that he was not a delegate to the inter-district meeting to prepare for the party's congress which kicks off today(Tuesday),  invaded the venue to demonstrate against Mpofu.

Apart from Mudenda, Nyoni, other members who had a motion of no confidence passed in them are Fathi Mpofu, Elias Mavule and Tshatha Mguni.

"I am not a delegate," Chipere told The Zimbabwe Mail on Saturday after he addressed the delegates who were waiting while the joint provincial council met.

"I am here to demonstrate against Obert."

In his address, he lashed out at Mpofu, accusing him of trying to destabilise Hwange.