Furious Mutasa blasts Zanu PF MP’s who boycotted his 78th birthday celebrations

By Tatenda Mabasa | Nehanda Mutare Bureau |

Zanu PF national secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa was left seething with anger after the majority of newly elected MP’s in Manicaland, including four in his native Makoni district, boycotted his joint 78th birthday and victory celebrations on Saturday.

So aggrieved was Mutasa, who had expected to be pampered and showered with praises and gifts, that he took off his gloves and publicly lashed out at the absentees, accusing them of humiliating him.

Mutasa charges that those MPs who boycotted his bash – led by the outgoing Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa, women’s league boss Oppah Muchinguri and Senator and former intelligence supremo Shadreck Tongesai Chipanga –had a bone to chew with him.

Others who spurned invitations include war veterans leader Joseph Chinotimba (Buhera South), Hubert Nyanhonga (Nyanga North), CIO trainer Francis Muchenje (Makoni North), Manditawepi Chimene (Makoni South), Kudzanai Chipanga (Makoni West), Supa Mandiwanzira (Nyanga South), Ronald Muderedzwa (Buhera Central), Oliver Mandipaka (Buhera West), Lucia Chitura (Buhera), Mawire (Makoni), Senator Monica Mutsvangwa (Zimunya Marange) and Manicaland Governor Chris Mushohwe (Mutare West).

They are believed to belong to a faction led by Chinamasa and Muchinguri – that is loyal to Defence Minister Emerson Dambudza Mnangagwa. A member of the Mnangagwa faction who was tasked to attend the occasion was William Mutomba (Buhera North) for report back purposes.

Chinamasa, Chipanga Snr, Mutomba, Chinotimba, Muchinguri and Nyanhongo are vital cogs of the Mnangagwa faction. They were part of Mnangagwa loyalists who recently petitioned Mugabe to reign in Mutasa accusing him of destroying and fanning factionalism in Zanu PF in Manicaland.

Supa Mandiwanzira left Mutasa with egg on the face during the trial of Madiro, when he gave contradicting evidence to discredit the geriatric and which eventually led to the acquittal of Madiro.

Though Irene Zindi (Mutasa South), Win Mlambo (Chipinge East), Adam Chemwamurombo (Chipinge West) and Nyasha Chikwinya (Mutare South) attended, their allegiance to Mutasa remains doubtful. Sources said they were political greenhorns who wanted to be seen on the right side.

The MPs loyal to Mutasa and his Mujuru faction in attendance were Enock Porusingazi (Chipinge South), Anna Kavhu and Munacho Muteza (Chimanimani West). Former MP Mutare South Fred Kanzama, Mutasa bootlicker Basil Nyabadza and business mogul Esau Mupfumi also attended.

Kanzama is understood to be endearing himself to Mutasa in a desperate bid to land the Manicaland provincial council chairmanship, but the Mnangagwa faction is aware of the ploy and has vowed to throw spanners in their works.

“Everyone was invited but I am surprised that some are not here. Why are they not here when they have been invited?

“How can we say we are united in the party when some are not here? Are we not fooling ourselves to say there is unity in Manicaland when they boycott my celebrations? What are they fighting, vanorwei. Hapana kubatana apa,” said a visibly annoyed Mutasa.

“Where are they? What are they doing? Are they with us? How can we trust them? If an old woman like Amai Chitepo could attend, what about mhandara nemajaya asiri pano? What is their excuse? What image are they trying to portray – that the party is divided?

“I hope we will be able to discuss this matter when we meet as the provincial council. To the provincial chairperson Ambassador Dr Mvundura, I want you to seriously look into this matter since you are the one who has been preaching about unity amongst us and see if there is unity indeed.

“Please take me seriously and include it on the agenda kuti tibudirane pachena,” added Mutasa in a chagrined mood.

A Zanu PF source added that those who attended did so thinking that Mutasa will influence their appointments in cabinet.

“We have people like Porusingazi who feel it was high time they be allocated cabinet posts, and as a way to demonstrate their loyalty to Mutasa and Mujuru faction, had to arm-twist newly elected MPs from Chipinge to attend the function that was absconded by those from Makoni.

“It shows that they do not know Mutasa, he is a jealous leader who does not want to see other rise. He does not represent anyone other than his interest. He is selfish.

“You must understand Mutasa’s anger from a perspective that it dawned on him that he has lost the support of his homeboys from Makoni. In shona we say huru inokudzwa newayo, but this is no longer the case with him. I foresee more resistance against him now that Chinamasa, Muchinguri and Chipanga Snr are elected legislators,” said the Zanu PF insider.