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Muchinguri blasts warring Zanu PF factions

Politics
ZANU PF Women’s League chairperson Oppah Muchinguri has castigated rival party factions that have resorted to unilaterally fire officials

ZANU PF Women’s League chairperson Oppah Muchinguri has castigated rival party factions that have resorted to unilaterally fire officials or seek the services of traditional healers in their quest to land top posts at the party’s upcoming elective congress in December.

TATENDA CHITAGU OWN CORRESPONDENT

Speaking at a provincial inter-district conference at the Masvingo Polytechnic College on Friday, Muchinguri said it was unacceptable for members to de-campaign each other as the dates and agenda of the congress are yet to be tabled.

“We will hold an elective congress this year. I hear some have already held their elections. Who told you to do so? Others are firing each other [from positions]. That kind of campaigning is not right,” said Muchinguri.

“Some are already saying we don’t want this official, we want that one; that causes hatred. Others are visiting prophets and traditional healers; it doesn’t work that way,” she said.

Muchinguri called for discipline in a party that has been ravaged by internecine fights for positions spurred by President Robert Mugabe’s reluctance to anoint a successor.

She said it was still too early to speculate and start jostling for positions.

“We will give you dates for the congress so that we move our party ahead.”

Party insiders said Mugabe, who at 90 is Africa’s oldest president, would be re-elected under protest as none of the front-runners to succeed him have the guts to throw their hats in the ring, although they have a burning desire to see him exiting the political scene.

Mugabe has been at the helm of Zanu PF since 1977 and the country since independence from Britain in 1980.