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Fireworks expected at Zanu PF indaba

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Zanu PF national commissar Webster Shamu is expected in Bulawayo tomorrow to deal with the contentious issue of the suspension of provincial chairperson Isaac Dakamela. The suspension has divided the party’s top brass and the party’s lower structures. Yesterday, there were reports of confusion ahead of the meeting with sources saying Dakamela was telling people […]

Zanu PF national commissar Webster Shamu is expected in Bulawayo tomorrow to deal with the contentious issue of the suspension of provincial chairperson Isaac Dakamela.

The suspension has divided the party’s top brass and the party’s lower structures.

Yesterday, there were reports of confusion ahead of the meeting with sources saying Dakamela was telling people Shamu had instructed him to chair the indaba.

“That is not possible. Sibanda (Killian) is the one who is supposed to chair the meeting.

“Dakamela was suspended and replaced by Sibanda. He is the one who will chair the meeting,” said a party insider.

Dakamela yesterday said he had already been mandated by Shamu to convene the meeting.

“I received a letter from the commissar instructing me to convene the meeting which I have already done. The rest will be done by him,” he said.

No comment could be obtained from Sibanda, who on Monday said he had stopped commenting on the Dakamela issue as the matter had been taken to the party “elders”.

Shamu’s visit to Bulawayo follows the Zanu PF politburo directive to him and the national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo to investigate fissures threatening to tear apart the party in the province.

Dakamela was suspended two weeks ago by the provincial coordinating committee (PCC) over allegations of corruption and insubordination and was replaced by Sibanda.

But politiburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, believed to be Dakamela’s ally, dismissed the suspension as null and void, saying the meeting was not properly convened.

Dakamela has also defied the suspension and continued reporting for duty, claiming he had not been served with the letter of suspension. Shamu’s visit also comes as the PCC on Tuesday set up a task team to investigate reports of an alleged plan to demonstrate outside the party’s Davies Hall provincial headquarters.

It is alleged a group of the party’s district members sympathetic to Dakamela met at a drinking spot on the outskirts of the city centre last weekend and denounced his suspension, saying it was unconstitutional.

Although reports indicated Dakamela was also at the meeting, he said he was out of town at the time and “only read about it in the papers”.

According to insiders, the group intended to conduct demonstrations outside Davies Hall, but the plan failed as they were few.

Shamu is also expected to visit Matabeleland North next Saturday to solve the matter of the suspension of the party’s acting chairperson Zwelitsha Masuku.

Masuku’s suspension has already caused a rift between Mines and Mining Development minister Obert Mpofu and party national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo who reportedly exchanged harsh words over the matter in a recent politburo meeting.

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