Zanu PF fights take chilling turn

via Zanu PF fights take chilling turn – NewsDay Zimbabwe April 2, 2015

AS the new wave of factional politics continues to rock Zanu PF in the run-up to the party’s primaries ahead of two crucial by-elections on June 10, a headman from Headlands constituency claims that he woke up on Tuesday to find a live bullet planted at his doorstep after he had earlier been accused of belonging to a “wrong faction”.

BY Obey Manayiti Everson Mushava

Headman Sebastian Boora, who is also Zanu PF’s political commissar for Netsiwe district, told NewsDay yesterday that he suspected that the bullet was dropped at his homestead by members of a rival faction to instill fear and discourage him from supporting disqualified candidate Dakarai Mapuranga.

Mapuranga had initially been disqualified on the basis that he was not from Manicaland province despite being an executive member of the provincial youth league.

The party later included him on the list of 12 candidates approved to contest its primary elections where the winner would then run in the by-election to replace former Headlands MP Didymus Mutasa.

Boora said he reported the matter at Headlands Police Station yesterday and the bullet was removed from his yard.
However, police in Headlands referred all the questions to Manicaland provincial spokesperson Inspector Enock Chishiri whose phone went unanswered yesterday.

The disqualification of Mapuranga, who is said to be a close ally of national political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere, has caused divisions in Zanu PF, while the dropping of live ammunition at rivals’ residences has been widely used in Zimbabwe since Independence in 1980.

Mapuranga was reportedly disqualified by politburo member and new Manicaland political “godmother” Oppah Muchinguri, who recently insinuated that Kasukuwere was now leading a new faction in Zanu PF dubbed Generation 40.
“On Sunday, I went to a meeting where the party leadership, including some politburo members, had come to show us the five candidates to replace Mutasa,” Boora said.

“One of the people at the meeting stood up and alleged that I was supporting Mapuranga and I was immediately chucked out of the meeting before presenting my side of the story.

“I am a political commissar in the area and I don’t know why they are doing this to me. I left that meeting peacefully, but in the early hours of Tuesday there was noise at my homestead, but I didn’t go out to enquire.
“In the morning when my wife was sweeping the yard, she came across this bullet and we are all afraid now,” he said.

Mapuranga confirmed the development yesterday and urged rival party factions to work together.
Meanwhile, Kasukuwere yesterday said Zanu PF primary elections for the Headlands constituency would be held on Sunday.

“Polling stations will be open at 0700 hours and will close at 1900hours. Members will vote according to their cell or village registers and will be required to produce their national identity card or valid passport as proof of identity,” Kasukuwere said in a statement yesterday.

The approved candidates are Christopher Chingosho, William Chiripamberi, Shiela Mahere, Tinaye Chigudu, Elizabeth Mukungatu, Tedias Nyikayaramba, Albert Nyakuyedzwa, Nathaniel Mhiripiri, Timon Tandi, Moses Chikwariro, Ndakaitei Mangandu and Dakarai Mapuranga.