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From George Maponga in Masvingo
Zanu-PF Masvingo Province has endorsed President Mugabe (pictured right) as the party’s candidate for the 2018 elections, expressing confidence in his leadership of both the party and Government.

Speaking after a closed-door Zanu-PF provincial co-ordinating committee meeting at Masvingo Polytechnic yesterday, the party’s Masvingo acting provincial chairman Cde Amasa Nhenjana said the province was solidly behind President Mugabe.

Cde Nhenjana said the PCC meeting was held to quell unconfirmed reports that Masvingo was no longer behind President Mugabe.

He said contrary to the reports, the province was united behind President Mugabe and the First Family.

“We support President Mugabe and the First Family and we also support his candidature for the 2018 elections. We were disturbed by messages claiming that Masvingo no longer supported the President and the First Family,’’ he said.

“We had to call a meeting to set the record straight over the false reports.’’

Cde Nhenjana dismissed claims that Masvingo had endorsed Vice-President Mnangagwa as Zanu-PF’s next leader saying the province was only loyal to one centre of power, President Mugabe.

“We do not even know that Vice-President Mnangagwa wants to take over after President and these are fabrications by people bent on destroying the party in the province.’’

He said the ruling party in Masvingo had tasked secretary for Youth Affairs in the Politburo, Cde Pupurai Togarepi to lead investigations of individuals alleged to be peddling falsehoods that province no longer supported President Mugabe.

Cde Nhenjana said the successful hosting of the over-subscribed 21st February Movement celebrations at the Great Zimbabwe monuments on February 27 to commemorate President Mugabe’s birthday was a clear testimony that Masvingo was fully behind President Mugabe.

Turning to the fate of ruling party officials in Masvingo who were suspended by the party, Cde Nhenjana said the province was still waiting for a verdict from the National Disciplinary Committee.

Top on the list is provincial chairman Cde Ezra Chadzamira who was suspended early this year for disobedience and promoting insolence in the party.

Cde Chadzamira, who was suspended together with Midlands Zanu-PF chair Cde Kizito Chivamba and Mashonaland East chair Cde Joel Biggie Matiza, was replaced by Cde Nhenjana, who was the provincial vice chairman.