ZANU PF’s factional fights came to the fore yesterday as divisions in the ruling party’s Manicaland Women’s League almost turned nasty, with the rival groups exchanging insults and nearly coming to blows at a provincial meeting in Mutare.
BY KENNETH NYANGANI
The meeting had been called by national Women’s League leaders, who are on a fact-finding mission following reports of sharp divisions in the province.\
First Lady Grace Mugabe was the major source of the conflict between two distinct factions that have emerged — one led by Letina Undenge, the wife of the province’s acting chairman, Samuel — and another by provincial Women’s League boss, Happiness Nyakuedzwa.
Undenge accused the Nyakuedzwa faction of not respecting Grace, whom she said should be the only centre of power in the country.
She also attacked national Women’s League executive member, Monica Mutsvangwa, for her alleged role in belittling President Robert Mugabe’s wife.
The drama started early in the morning before the meeting, as the gathering waited for the national executive members led by Grace’s deputy, Eunice Sandi Moyo.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Initially, the meeting, which was to be attended by 40 people, was supposed to be held at the Mutare Hall, but it was later switched to Turner Memorial Library, as rival groups had hired fellow members to outshout each other.
Undenge’s faction set the ball rolling, catching their opponents flat-footed, as they started demonstrating, waving placards written “Nyakuedzwa, (former Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus) Mutasa’s wife must go”, “Monica Mutsvangwa must go”, while another was written “Monica Mutsvangwa respect the chairman Dr Samuel Undenge”.
However, the other faction soon regrouped and refused to be outdone, as they started singing derogatory songs aimed at Undenge.
More drama was to follow as Undenge mobilised more supporters, who got to the venue in a commuter omnibus, matching her rivals’ numbers.
Provincial science and technology deputy secretary Evelyn Mutsago took a swipe at Undenge, as they came face-to-face.
“This was supposed to be a meeting. You are abusing the First Lady. We will take none of this. Why did you come with placards?” Mutsago fumed. “You appear to love the First Lady, but you don’t. We will beat you for that. They are lying that we are against the First Lady.”
Zimbabwe National Liberation War Collaborators’ Association Manicaland chapter chairperson Angeline Muponda was also vociferous, ripping into Undenge, whom she accused of being an MDC-T member.
Undenge said she would not be silenced while Grace was being insulted.
“You cannot continue to provoke the First Lady while we are looking. We want the First Lady to be the centre of power. We will continue to fight until we win,” she thundered back.
The national Women’s League executive members, led by Sandi Moyo and Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Shuvai Mahofa, watched the drama in shock when they arrived at the venue.
Sandi Moyo later told journalists that her team was on a fact-finding mission, but she refused to entertain questions.
“We came here on a fact-finding mission as the national women’s executive. We are not going to give you what we discussed in the meeting,” she said.
“But the members spoke their minds. Almost all of them said what they thought, except for a few. We are happy with what we got.
“But at least we got what we needed. We are going to compile a report from the meeting and give it to our leader, First Lady Grace Mugabe.”
The Women’s League executive is sharply divided in Manicaland, as some members passed a vote of no-confidence against Nyakuedzwa, briefly giving Nokuthula Matsikenyere the nod to lead the province.
A few hours later, Nyakuedzwa allegedly with Mutsvangwa’s help, overturned the decision, claiming the process was fraudulent and they had forged signatures. Nyakuedzwa reportedly also has the backing of Environment minister Oppah Muchinguri.
At the last provincial co-ordinating committee meeting, Mutsvangwa came under fire from Undenge’s faction, after she reportedly said Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere was a “nobody” in the party.
Mutsvangwa ignored a letter written by Kasukuwere, acknowledging receipt a vote of no-confidence motion against Nyakuedzwa.
In the letter, Kasukuwere had said the dismissal procedures were done correctly, but Mutsvangwa insisted the matter should be dealt with by the Women’s League, and not the political commissar.
The Women’s League last week issued two contradictory messages, with Sandi Moyo insisting Mutsvangwa faced disciplinary measures, while her fellow executive members insisted no action would be taken on her.
Zanu PF is divided along factional lines, one supporting Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and another dead set on ensuring Mugabe’s deputy does not succeed the veteran ruler, divisions that are now being mirrored in the Women’s League.
