More heads roll in Harare

via More heads roll in Harare | The Herald 17 November 2014 by Nyemudzai Kakore

The Zanu-PF Harare provincial executive committee yesterday booted out its secretary for administration Cde Torongo Torongo and secretary for security Cde Tongai Nheta for pursuing factional agendas and undermining the authority of President Mugabe.A total of 33 executive members out of 50 signed the vote of no confidence at the party’s provincial headquarters during an extraordinary meeting.

During the meeting, Cde Christopher Chigumba assumed the post of acting chair for the province following the ouster of Cde Amos Midzi in a vote of no confidence that was confirmed by the Politburo last week.

The provincial executive committee members replaced Cde Torongo with Cde Danny Musukuma, who is the province’s secretary for legal affairs, while Cde Nheta’s position was taken over by Cde Peter Mayerese, who is secretary for production and labour.

Cde Musukuma, who spoke to the press, accused both Cde Torongo and Cde Nheta of bringing the party into disrepute by being aligned to a faction.

He accused the two of violating the party’s constitution by holding clandestine meetings which had ulterior motives of dethroning the First Family.

Cde Musukuma said Cde Torongo and Cde Nheta failed to give enough evidence why such meetings were convened.

He said the meeting was held clandestinely after it was disguised as a birthday party for Cde Torongo.

It was resolved that those who attended the meeting be summoned before a panel constituted by the executive members.

“Cde Torongo and Cde Nheta both held sidekick meetings which were not only unconstitutional, but also convened at a venue not sanctioned by the party,” he said.

“They selected individuals with whom they met in a manner that is not only questionable, but not in line with the party’s constitution.
“Cde Tendai Nheta has been accused of making very serious utterances against the First Family, especially Dr Grace Mugabe, with such utterances which are not taken lightly by the members.”

Cde Musukuma said the two had no power to hold such meetings.

“PEC meetings should only convene at the party offices unless the members sanction a new venue,” he said.

“The real agenda of these meetings was to skim through the members and see who was aligned to the leadership of the chairperson which he called his camp.”

The ouster of both Cde Nheta and Cde Torongo came after provincial Women’s League chairperson Cde Angeline Matambanadzo was kicked out over the same allegations last week.

Present at the meeting were Harare provincial Minister Miriam Chikukwa, who is the interim chairperson for the provincial Women’s League, Harare provincial Youth League chairman Cde Godwin Gomwe, the province’s treasurer Cde Omega Hungwe, provincial Women’s League organising secretary Cde Susan Chuma and provincial political commissar Cde Shadreck Mashayamombe.

The PEC members said the ouster of both Cde Nheta and Cde Torongo would bring sanity to the province, which was now characterised by chaos.