Factionalism Intensifies in Zanu PF as Mugabe Attempts to Quell Internal Strife
The Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial executive has suspended its secretary for information and publicity and Hurungwe North Member of Parliament
WASHINGTON DC — Factionalism in Zanu-PF has moved a gear up despite fresh attempts by President Robert Mugabe to try and reduce rising political tensions in the party. After a marathon 10 hour politburo meeting last week, Mr. Mugabe called for a moratorium on the suspension of party members in the provinces, in particular Harare and Mashonaland West. The party is also struggling to finalise its rules for contesting for posts ahead of the December elective congress. But reports Sunday showed suspension of party members continues. The Zanu-PF Mashonaland West provincial executive has suspended its secretary for information and publicity, Christopher Mutsvangwa, and Hurungwe North Member of Parliament, Reuben Marumaho, for failing to attend committee meetings consistently. A number of executive members in the province were also suspended. Mutsvangwa told Studio 7 the suspension was a non-event. Party chairman Simon Khaya Moyo has been tasked with bringing normalcy to the party’s structures now divided between those said to be backing Vice President Joice Mujuru and those supporting Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangangwa. Mujuru and Mnangagwa have consistently denied being factional leaders. Some Zanu-PF insiders say Khaya Moyo cannot resolve the factional fights as he is accused of backing Mujuru. Efforts to get a comment from Khaya Moyo and party spokesman Rugare Gumbo were futile as they were said to be in a meeting. But independent political analyst Blessing Vava told Studio 7 that Mr. Mugabe is fast losing grip. On Tuesday in our political series, we will be talking to Professor Lovemore Madhuku, the leader of the opposition National Constitutional Assembly about his party and the state of the nation.