via Mnangagwa allies dragged to disciplinary hearings – NewsDay Zimbabwe February 25, 2016
ZANU PF’s national disciplinary committee (NDC) has gone ahead and hauled three provincial chairpersons accused of sabotaging a rally staged to thank President Robert Mugabe for his leadership of the African Union (AU).
RICHARD CHIDZA
Mashonaland East provincial chairperson, Joel Biggie Matiza was the first to be dragged over the coals, following his suspension two weeks ago.
“Matiza appeared before the committee yesterday (Tuesday) and was asked to defend himself. Today (yesterday), Kizito Chivamba (Midlands) is expected to appear. Then Ezra Chadzamira (Masvingo) will likely appear before the NDC on Friday (tomorrow). The three were notified through messages,” a source close to the issue said.
“(The hearings) are meant to instil fear in the chairpersons. They know they have no case, but G40 just wants to flex its muscle”.
The three are believed to be rooting for Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa in the Zanu PF struggle to succeed Mugabe.
The Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko-led committee includes First Lady Grace, youth league politburo secretary Pupurai Togarepi, legal secretary Patrick Chinamasa and national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere.
Kasukuwere, who announced the initial suspensions, yesterday declined to comment on the matter, instead turning his frustrations on this reporter after he introduced himself.
“Haa iwe! Nxaaa!” he said before terminating the call.
Zanu PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo could neither deny nor confirm the hearings.
“I would not know because I am not a member, but it is possible. I will only know when they bring their recommendations to the politburo and then I would have to make official announcements on their decisions. At the investigation stage, it is a departmental thing and it is the commissariat that has the information,” he said.
The Zanu PF information chief also said he had scant information on a sub-committee reportedly set up by the NDC to investigate Kasukuwere’s suspensions.
The sub-committee is chaired by secretary for national security Kembo Mohadi and comprises Eunice Sandi-Moyo, deputy secretary for women’s affairs, and Togarepi.
Matiza, Chadzamira and Chivamba were suspended in the aftermath of an emotive gathering organised by a faction of the ruling party, known as Generation 40 (G40).
Mphoko, Grace and Kasukuwere are reportedly key figures in the G40 faction that is engaged in a bitter tussle with another faction — Lacoste — made up of Mnangagwa’s supporters for control of Zanu PF as Mugabe’s political sunset draws closer.
At the rally, Zanu PF women’s league secretary for finance Sarah Mahoka laid into Mnangagwa, saying he was like a duck, as Mugabe watched.
The veteran leader did not admonish her, but instead said: “We have heard what Mahoka said. She mixed up things, but we will look into her issues.”
Mugabe also said Kasukuwere would be asked to investigate and punish provincial leaders who had “violently stopped women from coming to thank us”.
But provincial co-ordinating committee meetings held in Masvingo and Midlands scoffed at Kasukuwere’s suspensions and instead went a step further by firing officials linked to G40.
While Chadzamira and Matiza were not available for comment, Chivamba was, like Kasukuwere, also dropping calls just after this reporter introduced himself.
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