By Regerai Tukutuku
Zanu PF factional fighting has spilled into the courts with Masvingo provincial affairs minister Kudakwashe Bhasikiti suing ZANU PF central committee member Tafadzwa Shumba for defamation of character.
The lawsuit stems from accusation by Shumba that Bhasikiti once addressed people in Mwenezi last year where is a member of parliament telling them that President Robert Mugabe is senile and too old hence people should not listen to him.
Bhasikiti is denying the allegations and has since filed a lawsuit demanding USD 10 000 from Shumba for defaming his character.
In his court papers Bhasikiti is claiming that on 19 December last year Shumba addressed a ZANU PF provincial co-ordinating Committee meeting telling that Bhasikiti had insulted President Robert Mugabe.
In the meeting Shumba allegedly told the audience that Bhasikiti had addressed meetings in Mwenezi where he was denouncing President Robert Mugabe and describing him as too old and senile.
It is alleged that Bhasikiti later on confronted acting ZANU PF provincial chairman Paradza Chakona over the utterances by Shumba.
Chakona allegedly confirmed that indeed Shumba had addressed the party provincial co-ordinating committee meeting telling delegates that Bhasikiti had tarnished the image of President Robert Mugabe by describing him as senile and too old.
Chakona however downed played the utterances saying the issue was just raised in the meeting.
Chuma and Gurajena legal firm is representing Bhasikiti in the lawsuit.
Kossam Chuma of Chuma Gurajena and partners confirmed that he was handling the defamation lawsuit on behalf of the provincial affairs minister.
Bhasikiti has denied ever uttering the words hence the lawsuit. Shumba who was recently elected into the ZANU PF central committee and also comes from Mwenezi district is yet to respond to the law suit. The Zimbabwean
