ZANU PF yesterday said it would crack the whip on party members found campaigning for central committee positions before finalisation of election guidelines for the party’s elective congress in December.
EVERSON MUSHAVA
Addressing journalists in Harare, party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said: “All party members are, therefore, advised to desist from electioneering or allocating posts in any form whatsoever.
“Any members of the party who will breach this directive will face stern disciplinary action.”
Jostling for positions has threatened to widen cracks in Zanu PF as factions allegedly led by Vice-President Joice Mujuru and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa vie to strategically position themselves in the race to succeed President Robert Mugabe.
As the party draws near to its December elective congress, canvassing for votes into the party’s key structures has escalated, and sometimes, culminating into public clashes and media onslaught against each other.
The youth and women’s league conferences held in August were marred by chaos and accusations of vote manipulation as the factions flexed their muscles to control party structures.
Gumbo also warned members to desist from issuing out unauthorised statements saying communication on behalf of the party was a responsibility of his department.
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“Therefore, the issuance of unsanctioned statements from unauthorised people within the party should cease forthwith. This is a serious breach of party protocol and procedure,” Gumbo said.
As factionalism intensifies, Mugabe last month while addressing party supporters in Kariba admonished members from playing their factional wars in the “private” Press which he described as “opposition” media.
Gumbo pleaded for peace within the party for the successful implementation of party programmes.
“As Zanu PF prepares for its 6th National People’s Congress, all party members are called upon to uphold the spirit of unity of purpose to ensure the successful implementation of national programmes.
“Political stability, peace, order, social and economic development can only be achieved under conditions of national unity bound by a high level of discipline, which is a hallmark of our revolutionary party.”
Gumbo announced a nine-member strong committee headed by party national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo that would oversee the preparations for the congress.
It comprises Didymus Mutasa (finance sub-committee), Webster Shamu (organising), Sydney Sekeramayi (security), Gumbo (information), Nicholas Goche (transport), Mnangagwa (legal), David Parirenyatwa (health) and Sikhanyiso Ndlovu (entertainment).
