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From Walter Mswazie in Masvingo
ZIMPF leader Dr Joice Mujuru has admitted that there are divisions which are worsening in her party in Masvingo.
Addressing mourners, mainly party members at the burial of provincial spokesperson Retired Colonel Kudzai Mbudzi in Murisa Village under Chief Charumbira area in Masvingo yesterday, Dr Mujuru appealed for unity within the beleaguered party’s provincial executive.
Rtd Col Mbudzi died on Sunday morning at West End Clinic in Harare after a short illness.
There is a brewing storm in Masvingo over leadership changes which have seen founding chairman Retired Col Claudius Makova being elevated to a more ceremonial position in the council of elders and replaced by Dr William Zivenge of the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU).
However, Rtd Col Makova has vowed to remain the chairman of the province and has disregarded the election of Dr Zivenge as the new chairman.
The national party spokesperson, Mr Jealousy Mawarire, has also maintained that Rtd Col Makova will remain at the helm and dismissed the leadership change as null and void. As if not to be outdone, Rtd Col Makova has gone ahead and nominated a candidate for the forthcoming Bikita West by-election, Mr Kudakwashe Gopo, despite the national executive saying they don’t have an official position regarding their participation.
The visibly annoyed former Vice President said members should emulate the late Rtd Col Mbudzi who wanted unity.
“There is too much coughing in the ZimPF in Masvingo. Today, we have come to bid farewell to our senior member Rtd Col Mbudzi but I want to appeal to members in Masvingo to be united,” said Dr Mujuru.
“I nearly stroked when I heard of the death of Rtd Col Mbudzi. On Friday we had a meeting with the late Mbudzi in Harare over Masvingo as we know there are some problems bedevilling the executive here.”
She castigated party members for their selfishness and urged them to emulate the late Rtd Col Mbudzi in treating each other as equals.
“Members of ZimPF, why are you fighting? What are you showing to our nemesis, Zanu-PF? What are they learning from us? There is nothing because you are always fighting here in Masvingo. Some members have big egos and they always want to be seen outshining others. The late Rtd Col Mbudzi always wanted to do away with people’s egos,” said Dr Mujuru.
“A political party is like a club where one is free to join but when I have joined my own club, you should not talk about me or follow me. If I have done something wrong, you should say, Teurairopa, you have done this the wrong way and not to call me names. Do not believe what you have heard about me simply because I won’t be there to defend myself.”
@walterbmswazie2
Online Reporter