NO ZANU PF CENTRAL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS

ZANU PF’s Manicaland and Mashonaland West provincial executives yesterday developed cold feet and failed to hold the scheduled central committee elections, citing the tense political situation in the country.

The party’s Manicaland provincial secretary for administration Kenneth Saruchera said the elections had been rescheduled to another date.

“With the current political situation that is prevailing, we can’t hold the elections. We have rescheduled them to a later date,’’ he said.

The central committee elections were reportedly meant to purge allies of former Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa ahead of Zanu PF’s extraordinary congress scheduled for next month.

Manicaland had recommended the expulsion of 38 officials linked to Mnangagwa, among them politburo members Patrick Chinamasa, Oppah Muchinguri and Christopher Mushohwe.

However, the tables have since turned after the military stepped in and took charge on Tuesday night after Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) Commander General Constantino Chiwenga had earlier warned against the continued purges.

The situation in Mutare was calm, yesterday with known G40 allies having disappeared from the public.

Manicaland Provincial Affairs minister Mandiitawepi Chimene, a known critic of Mnangagwa, was reportedly in China.

In Mashonaland East, embattled Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Mabel Chinomona was barred from contesting central committee elections at Chikondoma Hall in Mutoko.

A defiant Chinomona, who is also Mutoko North legislator, reportedly arrived at the meeting with vigour and ready to contest in the elections, but was barred by other party cadres who said she had been suspended from the party.

“Mabel was told that an expulsion letter was on the way. She argued a bit about it, but the elections proceeded. By the time the programme ended, she had already left,” a party official who declined to be named said.

Chinomona is accused of being aligned to Mnangagwa.

The election also saw Mutoko South legislator David Chapfika losing in the race after he was defeated by party stalwart Everisto Pfumvuti.

Chapfika scored a paltry two votes against Pfumvuti’s 40.

Ex-combatant and Mutoko East legislator Ricky Mawere also landed a central committee post after garnering 27 votes against Oddo Nyakudanga’s 20, while Agnes Dembera got 37 against Jephat Chinake’s three.

Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister Ambrose Mutinhiri and Defence minister Sydney Sekeramayi were unopposed in elections held last week in Marondera.

In Mashonaland West province, Zanu PF suspended Hurungwe elections for central committee members.

Provincial chairperson Ephraim Chengeta did not answer calls on his mobile, but sources revealed that a directive had been given that the elections be suspended until there was direction as to where the party and the country were headed to.

“We do not know what is going to happen, so there is no need to hold elections that may be deemed null and void,” an official said.

Hurungwe has five positions up for grabs, with sitting MPs Reuben Marumahoko (Hurungwe North) and Godfrey Beremauro (Hurungwe Central) vying to be retained. Newsday

Posted in: NEWS