Zanu PF divisions over candidates deepen

ZANU PF Midlands aspiring proportional representation (PR) councillors have become the latest party candidates to be rejected by ordinary members over claims that they were imposed.

This publication heard that Midlands senator Tsitsi Muzenda, who is the daughter to the late vice president Simon Muzenda, cried at one recent meeting where PR aspiring council candidates were imposed.

There has been simmering discontent in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s backyard over the way the party’s aspiring Members of Parliament were selected.

Mnangagwa’s allies Muzenda, Local Government minister July Moyo, former State Security minister Owen “Mudha” Ncube and politburo member Mckenzie Ncube allegedly seized internal primary election processes to impose their associates.

The elections were run by the shadowy Friends Association of Zimbabwe (FAZ), which has links to the Central Intelligence Organisation.

FAZ was helped by Heritage Trust, which is said to be run by the military.

It has since been established that the selection of PR councilors was also marred by chaos after the provincial women’s league chairperson Tsitsi Zhou allegedly imposed her associates.

Zhou is an ally of the former State Security minister. “Muzenda cried in the meeting after failing to inuence the selection of the PR councilors,” a Zanu PF source said.

“And not only that, the youth are not happy as their members were sidelined during the whole selection process.

“The general feeling is that the PR council seats should have been reserved for the youth…”

Both Ncubes front di erent factions in the province while the Local Government minister also commands another grouping, sources said.

Mckenzie Ncube’s camp involves MPs such as Mayor Wadyajena, Edmore Samambwa, Babra Rwodzi, Brown Ndlovu and Paul Mavhima among others.

In Mudha’s camp there is Energy Dhala Ncube, Torerai Moyo, Tawanda Karikoga, ward 7 councillor and district coordinating committee chairperson Mecky Jaravaza and Jona Nyebvera among others.

The faction leaders are accused of stoking discontent in several districts and constituencies in Midlands where aspiring Zanu PF candidates are facing rejection from ordinary members amid fears of a protest vote.

"Mckenzie Ncube also wants to control the province, but he has been facing resistance from other districts, for example he was also forced to ea Gokwe-Chireya where they had gone to introduce their candidate," another source said.

“In Gokwe-Chireya, Torerai Moyo is not wanted by the grassroots and ordinary people over his case of assaulting Chief Chireya."

So bad are the internecine ghts that in Shurugwi North, the sitting MP Ronald Nyathi was not only pushed out, but his opponents also seized his gold mining claims.

“He was kicked out of his mine…they have disempowered him totally,” another source said.

“Aspiring MPs are also at the mercy of the vice chairperson of the province, one Chiherenga, who is in the habit of demanding bribes from them for claiming that he ensured they were endorsed despite protests.”

"In Vungu constituency, the exact results of the primary elections are still not known to date after ballot boxed were forcibly taken away from a constituency consultant (FAZ) by Samambwa and returned the following day."

The source added: "In Zvishavane-Runde, Zhou deployed women's league vehicles to campaign for Jaravaza as they elbowed out the sitting MP Dumezweni Mawite while in Silobela, Nyebvera was imposed to replace the people's favourate, Manoki Mpofu."

Insiders and other sitting MPs pleaded for Mnangagwa’s intervention to save the party from a humiliating defeat in his own backyard.

“Larry Mavhima and Samuel Mumbengegwi cannot control the province and the three factions anymore,” another source said.