Manicaland Women’s League boss booted out

Cletus Mushanawani in Mutare
the zanu-pf Manicaland Women’s League provincial executive has booted out its chairperson, Cde Happiness Nyakuedzwa, for allegedly disrespecting the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe. Amai Mugabe is the national secretary for Women’s Affairs and a Politburo member.

Announcing the resolution that was reportedly signed by 27 members of the provincial women’s league executive at a Mutare hotel on Sunday, the organ’s secretary for information and publicity, Cde Beauty Benge, said they resolved to pass a vote of no confidence on Cde Nyakuedzwa for gross misconduct.

“Cde Nyakuedzwa showed the highest level of disrespect and insubordination by interjecting a speech by the secretary for Women Affairs who is the First Lady Amai Grace Mugabe during a briefing in Chimanimani in contravention of Article 28, Section 266 (a) of the party’s constitution.

“She is also accused of fanning factionalism in the province as well as undermining the authority of the provincial chairman,” announced Cde Benge.

Cde Nyakuedzwa’s deputy, Cde Nokuthula Matsikenyeri, was named the acting provincial women’s league chairperson.

The Rusape-based Cde Nyakuedzwa took over the reins last year following the ouster of Cdes Joylene Porusingazi and Loveness Mutezo for allegedly fanning factionalism.

When approached for comment, Cde Nyakuedzwa, initially said she was not aware of the press conference, but later questioned its constitutionality.

“I am not aware of the press conference you are talking about. If it was held, it was done without my knowledge. In fact, it was done behind my back. This is the work of people with an agenda. It is a project to discredit President Mugabe and the First Lady. Why was the press conference held late at night?

“The First Lady is my boss and there is no way I would undermine her. People know very well that I rally behind President Mugabe and the First Lady and that is the reason they want me out. The people behind the vote of no confidence are the same people who were aligned to the (Dr Joice) Mujuru faction and now want to tarnish my image,” she said.