Ex-minister in soup over Mutsvangwa

By Mugove Tafirenyika

HARARE – Former Mashonaland West governor Peter Chanetsa faces the boot from the restive Zanu PF provincial coordinating committee (PCC) for allegedly misrepresenting facts regarding the ejection of War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa recently.

Following Mutsvangwa’s ouster last weekend there were groans from his sympathisers who were quick to point to a possible breach of party procedure in the manner the vote of no confidence was passed.

Some, including Chanetsa, even claimed they were made to believe that they were signing for their travel and subsistence allowances for the just-ended Victoria Falls, Zanu PF annual conference.

But the deeply-divided ruling party’s Mashonaland West deputy provincial chairperson Keith Guzah, who announced Mutsvangwa’s ouster at a press conference on Monday, came out guns blazing yesterday, accusing the former Mashonaland West governor of causing confusion in President Robert Mugabe’s home province “in pursuit of self-serving agendas”.

Mutsvangwa was expelled from Mashonaland West on charges of undermining the authority of Mugabe and his wife Grace.

Guzah, who was armed with the petition on which Chanetsa’s signature appeared on number 28 on the long list of signatories seen by the Daily News yesterday said he had further evidence to prove his participation.

“It is unfortunate that some senior members of our party, from our revered central committee for that matter, would want to cause unnecessary confusion in the province when there is evidence that the PCC met and made the decision with him approving by appending his signature as shown on the petition,” Guzah charged.

While Guzah chose to be diplomatic on what course of action the PCC would take against Chanetsa, saying the province would decide, some top officials are reportedly mobilising for his ouster already.

Well-placed sources also told the Daily News that Chanetsa, a war veteran himself, was under pressure from Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s loyalists in the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) to join them.

“Chanetsa is a hypocrite. How can he now say he thought he was signing for his travel and subsistence allowance for the trip to Victoria Falls when he never received any money after signing?

“Besides, the petition was clear as it was copied to Vice President (Phelekezela) Mphoko and national PC (Saviour) Kasukuwere who are members of the national disciplinary committee.

“So, for someone who has been a governor to say he did not know is the peak of double standards,” a provincial executive member who refused to be named said.

According to provincial members, Chanetsa is trying to endear himself to both the Mnangagwa faction and the Generation 40 camp — rival factions battling to succeed 91-year-old Mugabe.

“We know he is trying to serve two masters but we will not allow him to enjoy the better of two worlds.

“He has to come clean on this one or we will deal with him because it is either he is with us or against us” the official said.

Guzah told the Daily News that the petition against Mutsvangwa has since been handed over to the party’s national disciplinary committee for consideration.

“We will not waste time commenting on his claims because we are already waiting for the disciplinary committee to make a ruling which we will be privileged to hear through the politburo when it deliberates over the matter”.

Chanetsa refused to comment, referring questions to provincial chairperson Ephraim Chengeta who claimed to have been in a meeting all day.