FORMER Masvingo Rural District Council chief executive officer Clemence Makwarimba has been tipped to replace Dzikamai Mavhaire as Senator after the ex-Energy minister was fired from Zanu PF last week.
By Tatenda Chitagu
Mavhaire is among seven senior ruling party officials fired in the latest purge of party heavyweights for allegedly conniving with former Vice-President Joice Mujuru to oust President Robert Mugabe.
Others caught in the dragnet were former politburo members Olivia Muchena, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, former central committee member Claudius Makova, Mbire MP David Butau and a national youth league executive, Kudakwashe Gopo.
Several others were also suspended, among them former Masvingo provincial chair Retired Brigadier Killian Gwanetsa.
Besides being a Senator, Mavhaire sat in the Zanu PF politburo as secretary for labour and production and was also a member of the central committee for Masvingo Province.
Zanu PF insiders told NewsDay yesterday that Makwarimba, a central committee member, was the frontrunner for Mavhaire’s post with former Senator Maina Mandava also said to be in the race.
“He is tipped to be Mavhaire’s replacement and already canvassing has started on both fronts, though still subtle as it is a bit too early,” a source said.
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Makwarimba declined to comment on the issue while Mandava was unreachable.
Zanu PF Masvingo chairman Paradzai Chakona said the Zanu PF commissariat had not yet officially advised the lower structures about the expulsions. “It is not yet official. Normally, the commissariat department writes to us and also to Parliament,” he said.
“Those processes are not yet done. So as party members, we should not rush to scramble for positions, otherwise we will create problems for ourselves.”
