D-day for Mnangagwa allies

By Blessings Mashaya

Allies of embattled vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will today know their fate as the Mashonaland West provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meets to decide on whether to expel them from the faction riddled party or not.

The quartet — provincial secretary for education Fani Phiri, political commissar Simon Solomon, secretary for transport Philemon Ndushu and one Sibongile Bhebhe — were first reprimanded late last year for allegedly fanning factionalism in the ruling party.

The Zanu PF women’s league chairperson for Mashonaland West, Angeline Muchemeyi confirmed the meeting to the Daily News yesterday.

“Yes the PCC meeting is for tomorrow (today). The disciplinary committee will officially announce the fate of members who are facing various allegations including fanning factionalism,” Muchemeyi said.

Deputy provincial chairperson Keith Guzah, who is also chairperson of the province’s disciplinary committee, confirmed that the four were being investigated and two of them are still to be given a chance to defend themselves.

However, close sources said the four have now been found guilty of “being unrepentant” and allegedly continuing to engage in factional politics, as well as disrespecting first lady Grace Mugabe and other senior party leaders.

This latest dose of bad news for Team Lacoste comes a few weeks after dozens of bigwigs linked to Mnangagwa, including former War Veterans minister Christopher Mutsvangwa and his wife Monica, were booted out of the ruling party.

In addition to suspending Mutsvangwa and his wife from the party for three years, the former liberation movement also summarily expelled from within its ranks 14 youth leaders — including Godfrey Gomwe, Godfrey Tsenengamu, Vengai Musengi and Edmore Samambwa.

After Mutsvangwa was suspended Mashonaland West province recommended that the Norton legislator be expelled from Parliament.

However, in a counter move, the pro-Mnangagwa war veterans also passed a vote of no confidence against Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko and other senior officials such as Cabinet ministers Jonathan Moyo and Saviour Kasukuwere, who are all seen as opposed to the Midlands godfather’s presidential aspirations.

Team Lacoste also suffered a huge blow last week in Midlands after Zanu PF provincial chairperson for Midlands, Tapiwa Matangaidze, announced the party’s decision to sack many of Mnangagwa’s most trusted allies, including July Moyo, Justice Mayor Wadyajena, Owen Muda Ncube, Victor Matemadanda, John Holder and Cornelius Mupereri.

July Moyo who is Zanu PF’s deputy secretary for administration — has for long been accused by Mnangagwa’s party enemies of being the brains behind Team Lacoste.

And as more and more allies of Mnangagwa fall by the wayside, well-placed sources within the camp told the Daily News yesterday that some of the Team Lacoste’s leading lights were now of the opinion that they had “very little to lose and no choice” but to face their party nemeses head-on. Daily News