Rugare Gumbo suspended, Jabulani Sibanda expelled
The Zanu PF extra-ordinary Politburo meeting ended late on Thursday night with major decisions that saw the suspension of Politburo member and the party’s Secretary for Information and Publicity, Rugare Gumbo.
Gumbo was suspended for five years, together with Central Committee member, Enock Porusingazi.
Former war veterans leader, Jabulani Sibanda has been expelled, while several votes of no confidence passed against party provincial leaders were upheld.
Adrew Langa has been removed from the Matabeleland South Provincial Executive Council and from the chairmanship of the province.
The vote of no confidence on Masvingo Provincial Chairperson, Callisto Gwanetsa, Midlands Chairperson Jason Machaya, Amos Midzi of Harare Province were all upheld.
Manicaland Provincial Chairperson, John Shumba Mvundura was given a written reprimand.
In the Women’s League, the vote of no confidence against Masvingo Provincial Chair, Shylet Uyoyo was upheld.
In the Youth League, Tongai Mangomana and Oliver Huruva, both from Masvingo, had their vote of no confidence upheld.
On Harare Youth League Provincial Chair, Godwin Gomwe, whose case is pending with the National Disciplinary Committee, the Politburo said they are still seized with the matter.
The announcements were made by the Zanu PF National Chairperson, Simon Khaya Moyo, who has with immediate effect assumed the position of party spokesperson.
Khaya Moyo refused to take any questions after the announcements, but confirmed that the Politburo also discussed preparations for the 6th Zanu PF congress that will beheld from the 2nd to the 7th of December.
He said each of the 10 provinces gave preliminary reports on their preparations for the event, adding that the party is happy with progress and will receive final reports on the preparations next week.
Over the past few weeks President Mugabe has been using a combination of stage-managed demos and state security structures like the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) and the military intelligence unit to carry out a purge of senior party officials perceived as loyal to his Vice President Joice Mujuru.
Events in the party are similar to what happened in 2004 when current Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa was also thrown into the wilderness and his allies crushed. This was after Mnangagwa had made a push for the Vice Presidency using the infamous Tsholotsho meeting organized by Jonathan Moyo.
Mugabe crushed Mnangagwa and elevated Mujuru to the Vice Presidency. Mnangagwa loyalists were also suspended for a period stretching 5 years. History is therefore repeating itself with Mugabe now using the Mnangagwa faction to crush his VP and her allies by also suspending or expelling them.
While many have been tempted to think Mnangagwa is the beneficiary of the latest purge there is a growing school of thought Mugabe is actually manipulating the faction to drive his own succession agenda and possibly leave his own wife in charge to secure his family interests after he steps down or dies.
