ZANU PF national commissar Webster Shamu on Tuesday reportedly read the riot act to the party’s warring Bulawayo provincial leadership and ordered that elections for the province’s chairmanship be held on Saturday without further delay.
REPORT BY NDUDUZO TSHUMA STAFF REPORTER
The province has been dogged by fights over the election of a substantive chairman and youth executive, a factor that led to its failure to submit a list of delegates to attend the Zanu PF conference to be held in Gweru next week.
At a meeting held at the party’s Davies Hall provincial offices, Shamu reportedly ordered that the dissolved youth executive would not attend the conference.
He said the interim 13-member committee headed by Mabutho Moyo would travel to the Midlands for the party’s annual meeting.
The youth wing was dissolved early this month following an outbreak of violence at the party offices when members of the national youth executive went there to preside over the election of a new provincial chairperson.
Shamu declined to comment on the matter yesterday, saying: “I do not discuss things over the phone, why did you not come to the meeting?”
The Zanu PF Bulawayo province has been without a substantive chairman since April when Isaac Dakamela was suspended. Zanu PF youths on Sunday disrupted the accreditation process following clashes over who should be allowed to attend the party’s meeting.
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Last Friday, the election for the provincial chairman was stopped again due to infighting although the province later claimed the exercise had been stopped following the death of provincial member Josiah Thwala.
“The elections for the provincial chairman will now be held on December 1, after yesterday’s (Tuesday) meeting with the national commissar,” said a party insider.
“Shamu said the dissolved youth executive would remain frozen until their case was dealt with and the interim committee appointed by the national youth executive would be allowed to attend the national conference.”
Shamu reportedly warned senior party members to stop interfering with the election process, saying those found to be in the wrong would face disciplinary action.
“The national commissar also warned politburo and central committee members against interfering in the election, saying that would be tantamount to imposition of candidates,” said the source. The election is likely to pit acting provincial chairperson Killian Sibanda, who is reportedly linked to Mines and Mining Development minister Obert Mpofu, against suspended chairman Dakamela.
Dakamela is reportedly linked to politburo member Sikhanyiso Ndlovu.
The other candidates are likely to be Simon Khabo, Dzingai Kamamba and Mkhululi Dube.
