TRANSPORT minister Obert Mpofu has taken a subtle dig at his information counterpart, Jonathan Moyo, for failing to secure a parliamentary seat in July 31 2013 elections, as infighting in Zanu PF’s Matabeleland North province continue to escalate. Richard Muponde Senior Reporter
Without mentioning names, but clearly aimed at Moyo, Mpofu, speaking at a function to celebrate Matabeleland North politburo appointments on Saturday, said some people’s failure to win elections in their home areas was because they lacked respect.
There’s no love lost between the two, as a falling-out, which festered ahead of the party’s congress, continues to deepen.
According to reports, Moyo in one politburo meeting, described the burly Mpofu as having the brain of a mouse and the body of an elephant.
In the clearest indication of the divisions, only one politburo member, Mpofu, out of five, attended the Binga celebrations for the appointments, where the Transport minister was guest of honour.
Thokozile Mathuthu, Cain Mathema and the much-maligned Sithembiso Nyoni are the other members of the politburo from the province.
Youth league members said while everyone else was invited, Nyoni was not, although the minister insisted she would attend.
Failure by the four to attend will also call into question Mpofu’s perceived “godfather status” on the province and could be an indication that there is a larger plot against him.
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Contacted for comment, the party’s provincial chairperson, Richard Moyo confirmed the absence of the majority of the province’s politburo members.
“Some were on leave and others sent apologies,” he said.
“However, the party went on well. Members of the Central Committee attended the function.”
Mathuthu was yesterday noncommittal when asked why she did not attend the celebrations.
“It’s not your business which party I attend and I don’t attend,” she said curtly.
Southern Eye could not get comments from Mathema, Moyo and Mpofu, as their mobile phones were off.
This is not the first time Mpofu has taken a dig at Moyo.
In October 2013, Mpofu reportedly charged that Zanu PF members from the party’s Matabeleland North provincial structures who lost in the elections were ill-disciplined.
He reportedly cited Moyo’s Tsholotsho North constituency, Hwange East and Binga.
