THE purge on suspected members of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s faction continued yesterday ahead of the Zanu PF national conference with Women’s League members passing votes of no-confidence on the league’s secretary for administration Esphinah Nhari and spokesperson Monica Mutsvangwa, accusing them of disrespecting First Lady Grace Mugabe.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
The decision was made during a meeting held at the ruling party’s headquarters which was chaired by the First Lady.
Party sources said the motion for the pair’s ouster was initiated by Hurungwe East MP Sarah Mahoka, who doubles as the league’s secretary for finance. The sources said Nhari was targeted for publicly denouncing the G40 – a loose grouping of Zanu PF Young Turks believed to be sympathetic to Grace.
Mutsvangwa, according to sources, is alleged to have angered fellow party members after she publicly backed axed Manicaland women’s league chairperson Happiness Nyakuedzwa.
“The move is meant to silence anyone who might think of supporting Mnangagwa because, for example, the slogan by Nhari was not divisive since the party is on record saying G40 is just a myth. How do you suspend a loyal member of the party over a myth?” the source said.
Mutsvangwa last night declined to comment on the matter, saying she was not at the meeting.
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“I did not attend the meeting because I am not in Harare at the moment, there is someone in my family who is not feeling well. So I cannot confirm or deny anything at the moment. I have not even been told that there was a vote of no-confidence against me,” she said.
Nhari could not be reached for comment.
Party sources said the recommendations would have to be handed to the national disciplinary committee, then to central committee before being forwarded to the politburo.
Another source said the two women, believed to be strongly linked to Mnangagwa, might be suspended for three years.
