Source: Zanu PF women in explosive fight – DailyNews Live January 14, 2017
Fungi Kwaramba
HARARE – Fresh factional fighting has broken out in President Robert
Mugabe’s home province of Mashonaland West, with the regional women’s
league moving to “dump” one of Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s
fiercest critics, Sarah Mahoka, over allegations of causing chaos in the
ruling party.
So ugly have the ructions become that some of the Zanu PF women’s league
members are apparently seeking audience with powerful First Lady Grace
Mugabe to “get an explanation of Mahoka’s role and agenda” in the light of
the ruling party’s deepening infighting.
On the other hand, well-placed Zanu PF insiders told the Daily News
yesterday that the vocal Mahoka remained “relaxed and defiant” about the
noise surrounding her, with her backers accusing the provincial women’s
league chairperson, Angeline Muchemeyi, whom she is suing for defamation,
as leading the charge to have her expelled over her claimed close
relationship with Grace.
On her part, Muchemeyi, who is said to be a Mnangagwa loyalist, told the
Daily News that the party’s regional league was “not going to work with
Mahoka” until such a time that they were advised by national league boss,
Grace, on how to proceed on the impasse.
“We have made resolutions that we will not work with her until the first
lady comes to address us. This is not our own decision but it is shared
across the board.
“She (Mahoka) is a bad person. For now, we are waiting for the response
from our boss as women. We wrote a letter to her secretary and we hope
that when she returns (from her family’s Far East holiday) she will come
to resolve the Mahoka issue.
“She should come and tell us whether to work with her or not. Personally,
I don’t have anything against her, but that is the position that has been
reached by the province as a whole,” Muchemeyi said.
Mahoka is said to belong to the Zanu PF faction that is made up of young
party Turks known as the Generation 40 (G40) group, which is fiercely
opposed to Mnangagwa succeeding Mugabe.
With Mahoka and Muchemeyi belonging to opposite Zanu PF camps, the two
women have had several run-ins over the past few months.
At one time, Mahoka was accused by Muchemeyi of abusing church funds,
allegations which she flatly dismissed. And in December last year, Mahoka
slapped Muchemeyi with a $1 million lawsuit, accusing her of defamation.
Mahoka alleged then that Muchemeyi had falsely claimed that she was
undermining Mnangagwa’s authority and that she embezzled money meant for
the first lady’s rallies.
But Muchemeyi accused Mahoka of “listening to rumours” and defying the
provincial executive yesterday.
“She clearly cannot work with others because she does not want to listen
to us. Remember she once held a kangaroo meeting in a hotel that was
attended by three people and passed a vote of no confidence in me.
“She is also lying that she has the blessings of Amai (Grace) in what she
has been doing,” Muchemeyi told the Daily News.
Analysts have said the latest problems to engulf Mashonaland West province
are part of Zanu PF’s continuing deadly tribal, factional and succession
wars.
The G40 and the faction backing Mnangagwa, Team Lacoste, have been going
at each other hammer and tongs, particularly since the release of images
showing the Midlands godfather holding a coffee mug inscribed “I am the
Boss” during a festive season gathering at his Zvishavane rural home.
Mnangagwa, who was pictured then with maverick businessman Energy Mutodi,
has come under pressure from his party foes who allege that the Zvishavane
meeting was organised to plot the ouster of Mugabe from power.
On Wednesday, a G40-linked group, comprising provincial chairpersons and
regional commissars met at the Zanu PF headquarters in Harare, issuing a
statement in which they called for a probe into Mnangagwa for hobnobbing
with war veterans’ leader Christopher Mutsvangwa and Mutodi.
But a defiant Mutodi hit back immediately, vowing not to hold back on his
critical views regarding Zanu PF’s succession wars and rampant
factionalism.
“I am not against Mugabe, and neither do I have any personal grudge with
any Zanu PF official. However, I am suggesting that at the age of 94,
Mugabe is good enough to remain as the party’s first secretary but not a
candidate to run for office of president,” Mutodi told the Daily News.
“Secondly, even if Mugabe was to win the vote in 2018, there is no hope
that the current economic hardships facing the nation will end as no
investor would choose to invest in a country being led by a 94-year-old.
“All these people who are calling themselves provincial chairpersons know
that they were not elected, but were rather imposed by the G40 faction.
The elected Zanu PF chairpersons are being persecuted and accused of
unfounded allegations.
“It’s a charade, a travesty. There is a lot of injustice in the party.
There is regionalism, tribalism and endless factionalism. These are the
signs of a failed leadership because they no longer can unite people. You
are busy fomenting divisions so that you can go on and on without regard
to the interests of the majority,” the unrepentant Mutodi added.
Mutodi also challenged Zanu PF’s national political commissar, Saviour
Kasukuwere, and Higher Education minister Jonathan Moyo, who are alleged
to be G40 kingpins, to present themselves as alternative party leaders.
“Some shallow minds are saying that by demanding leadership renewal, I am
campaigning for Mnangagwa. This is a misconception. I am on record saying
Mnangagwa is a potential successor due to his loyalty to Mugabe, his
experience and his patience.
“However, anyone who feels is better and would want to compete with him is
free to come forward and contest. . . .Moyo, . . . Kasukuwere or any
other Zanu PF person is free to present themselves for election to decide
who finally succeeds our long-serving president,” he said.
The musician-turned politician appeared to make things worse for Mnangagwa
when he said earlier this week that Zanu PF should hold an extraordinary
congress to install Mnangagwa as Mugabe’s successor.
Mutodi also claimed that Mugabe, who turns 93 next month, had become so
unpopular in Zanu PF that “99 percent” of the party’s members now wanted
him to resign before the eagerly-anticipated 2018 national elections, as
there was allegedly no way that the nonagenarian could win elections
against popular opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
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