By Blessings Mashaya
Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s allies in Masvingo are gearing for the final push to dislodge the current provincial executive after the politburo last week upheld the suspension of former provincial chairperson Ezra Chadzamira.
The suspended Masvingo chairman and two other provincial heads, Kizito Chivamba (Midlands), and Joel Biggie Matiza (Mashonaland East), were suspended on February 14 for allegedly mobilising party members in their respective provinces to snub a rally by First Lady Grace Mugabe.
They were charged with disrespecting the first lady and their case had been dragging before the party’s disciplinary committee, now led by secretary for legal affairs Patrick Chinamasa.
Chadzamira is largely seen as a Mnangagwa ally, while the current executive comprises Generation 40 (G40) members that are rabidly opposed to the Midlands godfather’s presidential ambitions.
G40 was opposed to the holding of elections to choose a provincial executive, before the finalisation of Chadzamira’s case, while Team Lacoste insisted it was the only way to go.
Efforts to get comment from Masvingo provincial chairperson Amasi Nenjana were fruitless yesterday but he is on record in previous interviews with the Daily News saying those who are pushing for elections were jumping the gun since Chadzamira’s case was still under consideration by the party’s disciplinary committee.
Sources in the province said Team Lacoste was stepping up its counter-offensive against the G40.
“Nenjana and all the G40 members in the province will be now history soon. The finalisation of Chadzamira’s issue marks the end of this G40 nonsense. As you know, they were arguing that the province cannot hold elections without finality to that issue.
“We are going to elections early next year and all Ngwena (Mnangagwa) allies in the province are now geared to dislodge the current executive which comprises many of the G40 allies. Nenjana’s group knows that their days are numbered and they have already pressed the panic button in their camp.”
Zanu PF Masvingo province treasurer Killer Zivhu has indicated that he is eyeing the provincial chairperson post currently held by Nenjana.
G40 members accused Zivhu of being used by Mnangagwa’s allies to dislodge current provincial executive members.
Sources in Masvingo said Mnangagwa allies had roped in Zivhu to their camp in their bid to win favours from Grace Mugabe who is believed to be close to Zivhu.
Masvingo has recently been embroiled in ugly factional battles. Mugabe has tasked Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere and Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo to douse the factional flames. Daily News
