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NewsDay

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Restructuring: thorn in Zanu PF

News
The former ruling Zanu PF party is reportedly in a shambles amid reports deep-rooted factionalism in provinces is threatening a bid to reorganise party structures ahead of elections which may be held this year. Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa last week confirmed the restructuring exercise, recommended by the partys top decision making body, the congress […]

The former ruling Zanu PF party is reportedly in a shambles amid reports deep-rooted factionalism in provinces is threatening a bid to reorganise party structures ahead of elections which may be held this year.

Secretary for Administration Didymus Mutasa last week confirmed the restructuring exercise, recommended by the partys top decision making body, the congress in 2010 and reiterated at last years conference in Bulawayo, is yet to be completed.

He admitted the process was not moving at the desired pace, but denied the party was in a mess.

The restructuring exercise is ongoing, of course it might be slow but that nothing has been done is not true. Its a process. There are members who come every day, its like voter registration its an ongoing thing. Tell those who are telling you that they are lying, Mutasa said.

Over the past two years, Zanu PF has been pushing to re-organise its structures without success as the exercise has reportedly been saddled with infighting.

In Mashonaland West, Zanu PF restructuring exercise last month was marred by low turnout in Chinhoyi resulting in postponement of elections to a later date.

The exercise followed the election of the provincial chairperson John Mafa, said to be aligned to a faction led by Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The other factions are one loyal to President Robert Mugabe and the other to Vice-President Joice Mujuru. Zanu PF Masvingo province has also not restructured with chairperson Lovemore Matuke saying only the districts and cells have been re-arranged.

The provincial executive has not restructured. Only the district and cell have been restructured, he said. While Matuke confirmed the party has still not re-organised its structures, he denied factionalism existed in Zanu PF despite President Mugabe admitting on several occasions that divisions had failed Zanu PF in the last elections.

Factionalism is also allegedly rife in Manicaland with three notable factions as Mutasa, Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa and Agriculture minister Joseph Made allegedly battling to control the province. Womens League Secretary Oppah Muchinguri is also said to be leading another group.

Deputy provincial spokesperson Charles Samuriwo confirmed the restructuring exercise is yet to be completed.

The current restructuring in our districts is an ongoing process that shows our intra-party democracy. Its just a coincidence that its happening the same year we are going to have elections, said Samuriwo.

Efforts to get comment from the partys political commissar, Webster Shamu over the past week, have not been successful.

Former Air Vice-Marshall Henry Muchena, who was drafted into the commissariat to spearhead Zanu PFs restructuring exercise refused to comment.