Zimpapers Logo

Mudarikwa Simbaneuta

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Reporter—
THE zanu-pf Mashonaland East provincial executive will today convene a meeting to relook at the list of nominees it submitted for the Central Committee following resistance to some of the names on the list forwarded to the Politburo. Indications are that provincial heavyweights Dr Sydney Sekeramayi, Minister of State for provincial affairs Cde Simbaneuta Mudarikwa and interim chairman Cde Phineas Chihota might find themselves out in the cold as their names were rejected at the just-ended 6th National People’s Congress.

There have been calls to bar those associated with a plot by Vice President Joice Mujuru to oust President Mugabe from participating in a fresh process to elect Central Committee members from the district.

Party members from the province denounced the trio for being embedded with ousted provincial chairman Ray Kaukonde, who was said to have skipped the border into South Africa in the wake of reports of his involvement in the plot to oust President Mugabe.

After the President’s announcement for fresh elections at the congress, some delegates from Mashonaland East could be heard describing Cdes Sekeramayi and Mudarikwa as “bad apples” in the basket.

Cde Sekeramayi, who was the most senior Politburo member in the province, stands accused of failing to rein in Kaukonde when he went about sponsoring factional activities and sexually abusing female party members in the province.

Sources close to developments said Cde Sekeramayi’s culpability was heightened by the fact that he was the secretary for security in the Politburo and his brief bid him to ensure the security of the First Secretary and President of the party but he apparently did nothing let alone alert the Politburo about the sinister plots, yet all the machinations were happening right under his nose, leading many to conclude he was party to the Mujuru cabal.

Cde Sekeramayi could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Delegates bitterly complained over the names of those submitted as Central Committee members from Mashonaland East at the congress, prompting President Mugabe to ask the province to re-look at their list and submit the names acceptable to the members.

Provincial interim chairman Cde Phineas Chihota said the province would meet today to deal with the matter.

He said the province would want to avoid a situation where the undesirable elements would win elections.

“We are meeting tomorrow (today) to deal with the matter,” said Cde Chihota. “We have no reasons to hold fresh elections in this case because we might end up having the undesirable elements winning those elections.

“We simply want to verify the credentials of those whose names were forwarded to the Central Committee. We will verify if their credentials meet the requirement of today.

“In this case we will be looking at their dealings, behaviour, among other bad things they do.”

Cde Chihota refuted claims that he was linked to Kaukonde, saying he was the one who initiated and was the first person to sign the vote of confidence passed on him.

“For me to enter the contest for the elections for the House of Assembly in my constituency I fought a bruising battle as Kaukonde never wanted me to represent people in my constituency,” said Cde Chihota.

“We had differing interests. He was working with the VP to divide the party in the province. So, I am saying if people elected me as their MP why should we not respect the will of the people? The people’s view should carry the day.”

Acting zanu-pf spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo could not be reached for comment last night.

President Mugabe said he had learnt that the Mashonaland East list for Central Committee contained individuals linked to Kaukonde.

Kaukonde was booted out for sponsoring factionalism and seeking President Mugabe’s ouster.

Most of the delegates from the province applauded President Mugabe’s decision on fresh elections and went on to denounce those presented to him by the provincial leadership.