ZANU PF Manicaland provincial chair Mike Madiro was
reportedly booed and detained by angry war veterans and party activists, after
failing to explain circumstances leading to Joseph Mujati’s demotion as
vice-chairperson.
The incident happened on Unity Day at Vengere Hall after
Madiro had just finished addressing a Makoni inter-district meeting.
Madiro reportedly made a raft of changes to the provincial
structures, with Mujati being replaced by Dorothy Mabika from Chipinge as his
deputy, while Makoni North legislator Francis Muchenje was promoted from deputy
secretary to secretary for security.
A source who attended the meeting said the skirmishes
started after Madiro refused to take questions from party supporters over
Mujati’s status.
“After addressing the meeting, there was a suggestion to
have a question-and-answer session, but Madiro refused and people started
shouting. He was briefly detained by the war veterans,” the source said.
“They wanted to know why Dorothy Mabika was promoted,
demoting Mujati who is also from Makoni district. I think everyone in the
province knows how Mujati fought the G40 cabal. He was victimised by the Samuel
Undenge-led executive.”
Party members felt Mujati should have remained in the
executive, considering the role he played in blocking Undenge’s bid to turn the
entire province into a G40 entity.
Zanu PF Manicaland youth chairman Tawanda Mukodza confirmed
the incident, but said Madiro was not the target.
“The meeting went on very well. It was after the meeting
that the skirmishes started. There were some people who did not want Chief
Makoni to give a vote of thanks,” Mukodza said.
“They have their own fights in Makoni, but chairman Madiro
wanted to solve the disputes and some blows were exchanged.
“The chairman [Madiro] addressed the people and they were
happy at the end.”
Both Madiro and provincial secretary for administration
Kenneth Saruchera could not be reached for comment yesterday. Newsday
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