FACTIONALISM has reared its ugly head again in Zanu PF few months after the ouster of former President Robert Mugabe, with some provinces using the poor showing of the ruling party in the just-ended elections to nail their chairpersons and pushing to oust them.
BY OBEY MANAYITI
Through a co-ordinated effort, some provincial chairpersons — including Harare’s Godwills Masimirembwa and Manicaland’s Mike Madiro — are in the firing line on the basis that President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa performed dismally in those provinces.
Informed sources told NewsDay yesterday that the grand plan was to have new chairpersons who would take a stand with regards to preferred national leaders when the time comes.
So far, a group of executive members are moving around trying to push for the ouster of Masimirembwa and Madiro, but with a factional influence.
However, Masimirembwa dismissed the plot against him, saying he would welcome elections so that he renews his mandate and put to rest the plots that are being brewed against him.
“I have not heard about that, but whoever they are, the issue of provincial elections will be directed by the national leadership and not by provincial leadership,” he said.
“Anytime elections are called for, they are welcome because elections make those in positions of leadership get a renewed mandate from the people. As for myself, I am ready for elections any time and any day, as directed by national leadership.”
- 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
Masimirembwa said it would be tragic to allow factionalism to creep back into the party, saying people must embrace party leader Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wise counsel to unite.
“It will be really tragic if factionalism would rear its ugly head in the politics of Harare province. Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, it is clear that factionalism, tribalism, regionalism have absolutely no room,” he said.
Turning to allegations that he must take responsibility for the Zanu PF loss in Harare, Masimirembwa said the party lost in urban constituencies because of the isolation policy that was created by the former dispensation led by former President Robert Mugabe.
“The problem of urban constituencies is not peculiar to Harare and if you look at Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe and Mutare, the issue of urban constituencies is precisely as a result of the isolation policy of the previous regime which led to the loss of jobs, underdevelopment and so on,” he said.
“The urban population feels that the most and this cannot be attributed to one person, but the system of isolation which was adopted and which the new dispensation is seeking to reverse so that there are more jobs and opportunities.”
At the weekend in Manicaland, Madiro was reportedly put to task over Mnangagwa’s poor showing in the province. Already, the party has reportedly launched a manhunt over this and some officials are reportedly taking the opportunity to smuggle in the factional agenda.
Zanu PF was torn by factionalism before the removal of Mugabe last year through a military intervention.
