Women’s League fires five Dr Olivia Muchena
Dr Olivia Muchena

Dr Olivia Muchena

David Shumba Herald Reporter
THE zanu-pf Women’s League yesterday booted out its secretary for the Commissariat Dr Olivia Muchena and four other executive members on allegations of fanning factionalism and working in cahoots with those seeking to unseat President Mugabe.The other four are secretary for Legal Affairs Cde Abigail Damasane, secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Nyasha Chikwinya, secretary for Indigenisation, Empowerment and Economic Affairs Cde Albertina Bwititi and secretary for Education Cde Elizabeth Shongedza.

The Women’s League also dismissed its employee Cde Elizabeth Gwazemba, who was the deputy director in the department at party headquarters, for alleged abuse of funds and maladministration.

The five executive members were ousted through a vote of no confidence at a meeting in Harare, with Cde Muchena, who was at a graduation ceremony at the Midlands State University in Gweru and Cde Chikwinya who was outside the country, the only absentees among those dismissed.

The Women’s League secretary for administration Cde Esphenah Nhari read a statement after the meeting stating the reasons for the ouster.

She said apart from the votes of no confidence, the other item on the agenda concerned reports on an outreach carried out by the organ in provinces with regards to elections of those to fill the women’s quota in the Central Committee.

“We wanted some reports from every province prior to the  elections and the outreach we did with the First Lady,” she said. “During our discussions on the second item, actually that was the main one, we agreed to have a vote of no confidence in members of the national executive who are with us here, some of them, and the other ones have sent some apologies.”

She said the ousted members were involvement in the regime change programme pushing for President Mugabe’s ouster.

“(They were) pursuing factional leadership in provinces by undermining the authority of the First Secretary of the party, working hand in hand with the ousted chairmen and some of the women’s league provincial chairwomen.

“Supporting the rowdy youths who disturbed the First Lady’s tour of the provinces and holding private meetings with those members who are behind the (plot on) assassination of the President and First Secretary of the party.

“Due to that evidence, the Women’s League, after carefully evaluating the evidence, has resolved that a vote of no confidence be moved against the above members. Therefore, as the executive for Women’s League, we all agreed on these sentiments which I have read and put forward to you.”

Outgoing Women’s League national secretary Cde Oppah Muchinguri said the list will be forwarded to the National Disciplinary Committee which is chaired by Cde Simon Khaya Moyo for onward transmission to the Politburo for final endorsement.

“You discussed what was happening in the provinces with regards to the President’s post,” she said. “Everyone was saying that they want President for the post, yet going behind his back to criticise him with the aim of ousting him.

“Such people were doing that for a long time until now when they were exposed. There was vote buying like in Manicaland where Zesa Holdings funds were deposited in the account for the Women’s League, but those who deposited the money were in control and withdrawing it to buy people.”

Cde Muchinguri said the ousted quintet was opposed to the Women’s League decision to have First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe lead the organ.

Cde Shuvai Mahofa, who is secretary for Security in the Women’s League, said the image of the wing had been tarnished by the ousted national executive members as she urged the remaining executive members to be honest with each other.

 

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