THE Zanu PF G40 faction yesterday went ahead with a provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) meeting in Midlands, where it passed votes of no-confidence against several allies of Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, popularly known as Team Lacoste.
By Stephen Chadenga/Blessed Mhlanga
The G40 team, led by Tapiwa Matangaidze, who was recently appointed as acting provincial chairperson by Zanu PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere following the suspension of Kizito Chivamba, held its meeting at Senga Training Centre.
Speaking after the meeting, Matangaidze confirmed votes of no-confidence had been passed on provincial spokesperson Cornelius Mupereri, deputy secretary for administration, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, Zvishavane-Ngezi MP, John Holder and Clarisa Mutambisi.
Anti-riot police could be seen at the meeting in anticipation of violence between the two factions.
Other suspected members of G40 present at the poorly-attended meeting included Sports minister Makhosini Hlongwane, Shurugwi MP Anastancia Ndlovu, Midlands Provincial Affairs minister Jason Machaya, Mines deputy minister Fred Moyo, as well as Kwekwe MP Masango Matambanadzo.
Gweru businesswoman, Smelly Dube also attended.
Reports indicate that the bulk of the provincial executive, who were aligned to Mnangagwa, held a parallel meeting in Mberengwa.
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Matangaidze said the PCC meeting was on the Zanu PF calendar and accused officials who attended the Mberengwa meeting of defying structures.
“The meeting in Mberengwa is an attempt to create parallel structures in the party and this move should be condemned in the strongest sense,” he told journalists on the sidelines of the meeting.
“We are going to write to the party national level that we have a challenge in the province, so that investigations can be instituted and those who defy the party can be brought before the disciplinary committee.”
Matangaidze said the Mberengwa team had created their own party by holding an “unsanctioned meeting”.
But Mupereri dismissed the votes of no-confidence as null and void, saying Matangaidze did not have the numbers required to pass the no-confidence votes.
“First, the provincial executive had already passed a vote of no-confidence on him and, second, the people who attended his meeting are not members of the PCC,” he said.
“This is a publicity stunt and a non-event, which was meant to take the gloss out of President (Robert) Mugabe’s rally at Chipadze. How a minister can hold a meeting to pass a vote of no-confidence on politburo members when the President is holding a rally boggles the mind.”
