A ZANU PF Manicaland dialogue meeting last week nearly
degenerated into a fistfight when some members were chased away as deep
factionalism continues to rock the party.
Zanu PF has allegedly been divided into two factions, one
led by provincial party chairman and Home Affairs deputy minister Mike Madiro
and the other one led by national party chairperson and Defence minister Oppah
Muchinguri.
Some provincial executive committee members recently
recommended the suspension of provincial political commissar Gift Kagweda who
is said to be aligned to the Muchinguri faction.
Kagweda is being accused of writing a letter in September
under the banner of Manicaland War Veterans Association passing a vote of no
confidence in the Madiro-led provincial leadership.
Kagweda, who is the Manicaland war veterans chairman,
accused the Madiro executive of incompetence. He argued that Madiro and his
colleagues failed to drum up support for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was
beaten by MDC Alliance leader Chamisa in total votes cast during the July 30
plebiscite.
During the provincial executive meeting in Mutare last
week, a committee that include some war veterans was set up to engage Kagweda
to find out why he was not attending meetings despite holding a crucial
position.
However, Madiro and a war veteran identified as Nancy
Saungweme told the meeting that there was need for a dialogue with Kagweda.
Madiro set a committee led by a war veteran based in
Chipinge Mike Mhlanga to meet Kagweda.
However, in yesterday’s meeting Kagweda surprised everyone
when he came accompanied by districts war veterans’ chairpersons from the
province.
“There was a war of words and the committee that was set by
Madiro had to flee for their dear lives and as I am speaking to you they have
not collected bus fares and they don’t have money for lunch because of the
commotion,” said a source at the meeting.
A Zanu PF employee who refused to be named confirmed the
skirmishes.
“I don’t want to comment much, but all was not well, you
should have been there to see it for yourself,” he said.
Mhlanga, who led the committee set by Madiro, refused to
comment over the matter. Kagweda was diplomatic, saying that all was well at
the meeting.
“The meeting went on very well, but l am at a meeting at
the moment,” he said. Madiro said that he was not yet briefed about what
happened. Newsday
0 comments:
Post a Comment