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Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
The Zanu-PF leadership in Masvingo has extended an olive branch to suspected members of the G40 cabal, as it seeks to build a united party. In an interview ahead of an inter-district meeting in Masvingo scheduled for Sunday, Zanu-PF provincial chairperson Cde Ezra Chadzamira said the party would come up with various resolutions ahead of the party’s Extraordinary Congress set for Harare in a fortnight.

Chief among the resolutions, he said, was to second First Secretary and President Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa’s candidature for the 2018 harmonised elections.

“There are no longer any new suspensions or dismissals during these meetings,” said Cde Chadzamira. The inter-district meeting will be followed by a provincial coordinating committee (PCC) meeting which will endorse all the resolutions. Zanu-PF’s Extraordinary Congress is slated for December 15 to December 17 in Harare. Cde Chadzamira said Zanu-PF embraces everyone, adding that all those who worked against the party ethos should return with a clear conscience.

“As Masvingo, we are extending a hand of reconciliation to those that belonged to the G40 cabal,” he said.

“We embrace everyone, save for those who were expelled by the Central Committee. We should stop factional politics and work together to win the harmonised elections expected to be held next year. There is no factionalism in the party now and we urge those who had gone astray to come and attend meetings. We won’t be having any new suspensions or dismissals.”

Cde Chadzamira said all logistics for the forthcoming Congress were in place and the province was now geared for one of the important meetings on Zanu-PF’s calendar.

“We are going to have an inter-district meeting on Sunday where, on the top of the agenda, we look forward to endorsing President Mnangagwa’s candidature,” he said.

“He is our sole presidential candidate for the 2018 harmonised elections. We are also going to come up with other resolutions, to be endorsed by a PCC, the following day.” Cde Chadzamira added: “We are geared for the special Congress, all logistics are in place with adequate transport having already been mobilised.” He said the provincial leadership had hired 60 buses to ferry delegates to Harare. At least 650 Zanu-PF delegates from Masvingo are expected to attend the Extraordinary Congress.

Masvingo has seen four of its members booted out of Zanu-PF by the party’s Central Committee on allegations of fanning factionalism and belonging to the G40 cabal. The leaders include Masvingo South legislator Dr Walter Mzembi, former Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Dr Paul Chimedza, provincial youth chairperson Cde Nobert Ndaarombe and Masvingo Urban National Assembly member Dr Daniel Shumba.

The Zanu-PF national spokesperson, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, has called on provincial executives to stop the purging of members in the party and warned that those who defy the directive “will be dealt with heavily”.