MASVINGO – A vote of no confidence has been passed on the Masvingo Zanu PF provincial executive led by Retired Brigadier General Killian Gwanetsa, after they were accused of supporting under-fire Vice-President Joice Mujuru, blocking First Lady Grace Mugabe’s elevation to be the Women’s League boss, alleged incompetence, electoral fraud and disrespect of senior party members among a raft of charges.
TATENDA CHITAGU OWN CORRESPONDENT
Zaka central legislator, Paradzai Chakona, Gwanetsa’s deputy, has been appointed the acting chair.
A total of 73 members of the provincial executive, believed to be aligned to Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa, passed the motion. The bullish members of the Mnangagwa camp have since resolved to meet next Saturday at Masvingo Polytechnic College to elect a new executive.
The meeting was held last Thursday at the Chiefs Hall in Mucheke high-density suburb, Zanu PF‘s traditional provincial executive meeting venue.
A six-paged charge sheet detailing Gwanetsa’s alleged misconduct said his continued stay in office “threatens the survival of the party and its structures”.
“One year after the provincial elections have been held, provincial members have discovered and uncovered numerous issues and problems that have affected the smooth running of the province,” one of the charges read.
Chief among the charges were Gwanetsa’s alleged unsolicited nomination of presidium candidates, supporting Mujuru, secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa and national chairman Simon Khaya Moyo and campaigning for presidium candidates against a politburo directive.
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He was also accused of making misrepresentations to Grace at her Masvingo rally and failure to remove provincial members, who were “fraudulently” allocated positions.
“Cde Gwanetsa was very famous for breaking the record by being the only provincial chairman in Zimbabwe to nominate presidium candidates for this year’s congress ahead of any other provincial chairmen,” the charge sheet continued.
“As if that was not enough, he misrepresented in his statement or nomination that he was speaking on behalf of Masvingo province without any mandate from the PCC (provincial co-ordinating committee).
“This was another clear and precise case of misrepresentation and electoral fraud … he had not consulted anyone and this was his personal and singular view that was turned into a ‘provincial position’ — this kind of behaviour is synonymous with a dictator.”
He was also accused of allegedly “speaking strongly against the First Lady and her proposed appointment to lead the Women’s League”.
Gwanetsa was also accused of handling Zanu PF provincial executive meetings as if he was running a briefcase organisation.
“He keeps meeting agendas to himself and plans any meeting by himself without even involving the provincial secretary for administration,” the charge sheetread.
Gwanetsa declined to comment last night.
“I am no longer allowed to talk to the media, call (Zanu PF spokesman) Rugare Gumbo,” he said.
Gumbo was unavailable for comment, as he was attending a crunch politburo meeting.
However, a Zanu PF member said Gwanetsa and his executive were being punished for supporting Mujuru.
He said while some of the allegations were true, some were trumped-up charges which did not warrant a vote of no confidence.
