via Manicaland Zanu PF chair booted out 15/11/2014
THE Manicaland Zanu PF provincial executive passed a vote-of-no-confidence Saturday night against chairperson John Shumba Mvundura as the open season against key allies (both real and suspected) of embattled Vice-President Joice Mujuru continues.
Mvundura was slapped with a written reprimand at last Thursday’s politburo meeting which also expelled war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda from Zanu PF, suspended politburo member Rugare Gumbo for five years and upheld no-confidence votes against several other provincial chairpersons.
But the Manicaland provincial executive said the politburo reprimand was not enough and decided to fire Mvundura along with his deputy, retired brigadier Elliot Kasu and political commissar retired major James Kaunye.
In a statement issued by the executive’s secretary for information and publicity, Supa Mandiwanzira, Mvundura was accused of undermining the leadership of Zanu PF first secretary and president Robert Mugabe.
“While the people of Manicaland have noted with gratitude observations by the politburo of 13 November 2014, the misdeeds of Cde Shumba Mvundura resulting in his reprimand, we as the provincial executive council of Manicaland resolved to pass a vote of no confidence in the provincial chairman Cde Mvundura, his deputy Rtd Brig Kasu and political commissar Rtd Major Kaunye,” said Mandiwanzira.
Top Zanu PF sources say Robert Mugabe has moved to purge key allies of Joice Mujuru who, according to the veteran leader’s wife, planned to topple the 90-year-old at the party’s December congress.
Mujuru has since denied the allegations but that has not stopped Mugabe from weakening her grip on the party’s politburo and structures around the country with the suspension of all chairmen who could have nominated the vice-president as the party’s next leader.
As things stand, the vice-president now faces a tough fight even retaining her current position at the crucial December gathering.
“Inter district resolutions in Nyanga and Mutasa were manipulated to reflect that the district had nominated Cdes Didymus Mutasa as candidate for national chairman and Dr Joice Mujuru as candidate for second secretary when in fact there was no such discussion that had taken place in the mentioned districts,” said Mandiwanzira.
By nominating Mujuru and Mutasa, Mvundura “jumped the gun and contravened politburo instructions to desist from campaigning and making such nominations”.
Mvundura and his deputy were also accused of not looking enthusiastic enough when Grace Mugabe stormed Mutare during her country-wide meet-the-people rallies which she used to attack Mujuru.
“Mvundura and Kasu appeared aloof during First Lady Grace Mugabe’s meet-the-people rally held at Sakubva stadium on October 10,” said Mandiwanzira.
“Cde Mvundura failed to condemn the bussing in of rowdy youths who openly tried to disrupt Mai Mugabe’s rally by being rowdy and violent.”
Mvundura was also said to have mobilised executive members to attend a meeting addressed by expelled war veterans leader Sibanda at Matumba mine in Mutasa district where he threatened violence against government officials, especially those in the information ministry and attacked Grace Mugabe.
Worse still, Mvundura has not publicly or privately disassociated himself from Sibanda’s utterances, “indicating beyond any reasonable doubt that he is part of divisive politics of factionalism”.
“Mvundura endorsed rowdy youths who were bussed in to denounce leaders at provincial coordinating committee meeting held at Marymount Teachers College.
“The youths jeered and heckled senior officials among them Cdes Oppah Muchinguri, Chris Mushohwe, myself Supa Mandiwanzira, Kudzi Chipanga.
He added that Mvundura organised “kangaroo provincial executive meetings” to discuss provincial issues outside official structures, thereby stocking divisions in the party.
“Mvundura interfered with youth congress preparations by intimidating members to vote in a particular way. He intimidated party provincial youths to endorse party politburo members at each provincial meeting accusing them of one or the other.”
25 signatures were appended to the vote of no confidence letter.
COMMENTS