Mutare: Zanu PF near blows over Grace

via Mutare: Zanu PF near blows over Grace – New Zimbabwe 24/11/2015

WARRING Zanu PF Women’s League factions in Manicaland almost came to blows Tuesday after a delegation of national leaders descended on the province on a fact finding mission.

The delegation, led by deputy national chairperson Angeline Masuku, watched in horror as rival groups traded accusations and insults at Mutare’s Turner Memorial Library.

Masuku was forced to eject some of the provincial leaders but under fire chairperson Happiness Nyakuedzwa seemed to have lived to fight another day as she sat among the top leaders throughout the meeting.

The mission is investigating the conduct of national member Monica Mutsvangwa in the chaos that have rocked the provincial leadership in the past few months including suspensions and counter-suspensions.

First Lady Grace Mugabe has remained the main divisive element as rival camps mirror divisions at the top of the ruling party over who should take over from President Robert Mugabe continue to fester.

The group reportedly agitating for Grace is led by Letina Undenge who is wife to the province’s acting chairman, Samuel, while the other rooting for Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa is fronted by Nyakuedzwa.

Undenge accused the Nyakuedzwa faction of not respecting First Lady Grace Mugabe. She also attacked national women’s league executive member Monica Mutsvangwa for her role in belittling President Robert Mugabe’s wife.

Rival groups traded insults with Nyakuedzwa accused of being a member of former Vice President Joice Mujuru’s faction kicked out last year, while her supporters accused Undenge of being an MDC-T member.

Report to be presented to Grace Mugabe

Some of the placards from Undenge’s runner read: “Nyakuedzwa, Mutasa (Didymus former Zanu PF secretary for administration)’s wife must go,’’ “Monica Mutsvangwa must go,’’
“Monica Mutsvangwa respect the chairman Dr Samuel Undenge”.

The ruling party’s Science and technology deputy Evelyn Mutsago in the province’s women league hit back at Undenge, accusing her of being a “lying snake”.

“This was supposed to be a meeting; you are abusing the First Lady. We will accept none of this.

“Why did you come with placards?  You appear to love the First Lady but you don’t. We will beat you for that, they are lying that we are against the First Lady,’’ Mutsago said.

She received support from the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Collaborators Association Manicaland chapter chair Angeline Muponda.

Undenge claimed she was defending Grace.

Masuku’s delegation comprised among others, secretary for security Shuvai Mahofa.

“We came here on a fact finding mission as the national women’s executive; we are not going to give you what we discussed in the meeting,” Masuku said, addressing reporters.

“But the members spoke their minds, almost all of them spoke what they feel except for a few. We are happy with what we got.

“We got what we need and want; we are going to compile our report from the meeting and gave to our leader the First Lady Grace Mugabe,’’ Masuku said.

Zanu PF remains sharply divided in Manicaland and elsewhere in the country as factional fights continue.