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Walter Nyamukondiwa Chinhoyi Bureau
Zanu-PF central committee member Cde Ephraim Chengeta, has been appointed interim Mashonaland West provincial chairman in a move expected to bring stability in the party. Cde Chengeta who is also Chegutu Rural District council chairman, emerged as a dark horse and a surprise choice as several people had put their names in the hat to take up the post following the ouster of acting chairman Cde Ziyambi Ziyambi two weeks ago.

The provincial executives passed a vote of no confidence in Cde Ziyambi accusing him of fanning factionalism and insubordination.

Members of the executive announced the ouster of Cde Ziyambi at a Harare hotel and appointed Cde Keith Guzah interim chairman.

All other positions in the executive remain the same with Cde Guzah reverting to the vice chairman position.

However, National Political Commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, announced the appointment of Cde Chengeta after a caucus with the provincial leadership.

He said in coming up with Cde Chengeta, the leadership looked at getting someone whose interest was in serving the party and had no ambitions of contesting in elections to choose a substantive chairman.

“After so much has been said concerning Mashonaland West province, we are moving in to bring order and unity in the province,” he said.

“We are bringing in someone who does not harbour ambitions of standing as chairman.”

Cde Chengeta’s mandate is to oversee the restructuring of the party in the next 10 weeks before elections are held to choose a substantive chairman.

Cde Kasukuwere said the party had avoided taking the Mashonaland East route of dissolving the entire executive and choosing an interim chairman Cde Aeneas Chigwedere, who also harboured ambitions of being chairman.

This, he said paralysed the restructuring exercise as people would first want to secure their position at the expense of the party programme.

The national PC hailed the restructuring exercise in Mashonaland East headed by politburo member Cde Edna Madzongwe saying it went on well.

Secretary for administration Dr Ignatius Chombo, said the province should support the new chairman.

“There were people interested in landing the post of chairman, but at the end of the day the party settled for someone neutral who is loyal to the party, no matter what position he serves in.” Cde Chengeta said the appointment came as a surprise before pledging to work with everyone for the good of the party.