The influence of two Zanu PF bigwigs, Obert Mpofu and Simon Khaya Moyo, comes to the test tomorrow when the party’s provincial co-ordinating committee in Matabeleland North meets to discuss last year’s suspension of acting provincial chairperson Zwelitsha Masuku.
National party commissar Webster Shamu is expected to attend the meeting to help resolve the suspension.
Masuku was suspended in the run-up to the Zanu PF conference last year, reportedly at Moyo’s behest for allegedly acting outside party regulations.
However, no disciplinary action was taken against Masuku for more than two months, until Moyo is said to have written to him a letter of prohibition last month, three days before the province met to elect a substantive chairperson.
The elections were not held, but the province replaced Headman Moyo, who had been appointed to replace Masuku, with Matabeleland North governor Sithokozile Mathuthu.
Party insiders said Masuku’s suspension was a culmination of a power struggle between Mpofu and Moyo to control party structures.
The two reportedly clashed over Masuku’s suspension at a recent Politburo meeting.
Masuku, who hails from Mpofu’s Umguza constituency, is considered an ally of the Mines and Mining Development minister.
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Mathuthu yesterday said the party would hold its provincial co-ordinating committee meeting, but remained tight-lipped on Shamu’s visit.
“I do not know about Shamu’s visit. There is a PCC (provincial co-ordinating committee) meeting on Sunday (tomorrow) that starts at 10am,” she said.
Shamu could neither deny nor confirm his visit yesterday saying: “It is not my place to tell you where I will be going or what I will be doing because in as much as I am the national commissar, the programmes are run by the provinces and in this case, you will need to talk to Mathuthu,” said Shamu.
Party sources said they were invited to the meeting, but were not informed of the agenda. “We were not told of the agenda,” said a party source, “we will be told on the day of the meeting’.”
Initially the meeting was set for today, but was moved to tomorrow in what party sources said was meant to give Shamu time to travel having attended last night’s Independence gala in Harare.
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