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Zanu PF chairman resists transfer

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Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairperson and Grain Marketing Board (GMB) provincial operations manager John Mafa is making frantic efforts to block his posting to Mashonaland Central amid disclosures his transfer was a “plot to weaken” Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camp to which he reportedly belongs. Mnangagwa is seen by many as a front runner to […]

Zanu PF Mashonaland West chairperson and Grain Marketing Board (GMB) provincial operations manager John Mafa is making frantic efforts to block his posting to Mashonaland Central amid disclosures his transfer was a “plot to weaken” Defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa’s camp to which he reportedly belongs.

Mnangagwa is seen by many as a front runner to succeed President Robert Mugabe alongside his perceived rival Vice-President Joice Mujuru.

The newly-elected Zanu PF provincial chairperson has vowed to challenge his transfer to Mashonaland Central, which is Mujuru’s home turf, arguing the move would jeopardise the former ruling party’s chances of winning the next elections expected sometime this year.

“I am not going anywhere. I’m still at the office. People entrusted me with their vote just three months ago and I cannot abandon them and go to Mashonaland Central.

“I have indicated this to my bosses at GMB through letters that I have written to them with the hope they would hear my side of the story,” said Mafa.

“First and foremost, I want my party to win elections and this would be difficult to achieve with me away from my province.

“Besides, this would be a waste of resources as I would have to shuttle between the two provinces to carry out my mandate.”

Mafa bounced back as chairperson after emerging the winner in elections held in January following his ouster from the post in 2009 for alleged incompetence.

He was replaced by the late Robert Sikanyika, who died in a car crash on Independence eve last year.

Mafa polled 1 255 votes while his closest rival Walter Chidakwa garnered 711, acting chairperson Rueben Marumahoko 513 and war veteran Moffat Marashwa 52.

Three factions led by bigwigs Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, Zanu PF political commissar Webster Shamu and businessman Phillip Chiyangwa, were reportedly supporting Zvimba South MP Chidakwa, Marumahoko and Mafa respectively.

Chidakwa, who is President Mugabe’s relative, is allegedly a Mujuru camp loyalist.

Chiyangwa, also a Mugabe relative but believed to be aligned to the Mnangagwa faction, was barred from contesting the provincial chairmanship post and ended up supporting Mafa.