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Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
A PLANNED demonstration to protest the ouster of Cde Jason Machaya as Zanu-PF provincial chairperson for the Midlands suffered a stillbirth in Gweru yesterday after only a handful of people turned up.
The aborted demo had been organised by a small group of Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association members who are aligned to deposed leader, Cde Jabulani Sibanda.
A majority of the protesters chickened out of the stage-managed demonstration at the last minute after riot police and the police’s dog section maintained a heavy presence in Gweru’s Central Business District (CBD).
It is alleged that a small group of war veterans had mobilised some party supporters who are believed to be aligned to Cde Machaya and, by extension, Vice President Joice Mujuru, to stage a peaceful demonstration in protest against the vote of no confidence passed on Cde Machaya on Sunday.
However, the move was foiled after riot police maintained a heavy presence at the Zanu-PF provincial offices and War Veterans offices in Gweru where the demonstrators had planned to hand in a petition demanding the reinstatement of Cde Machaya.
Zanu-PF Midlands spokesperson, Cde Cornelius Mpereri, confirmed that a small group of party supporters had organised a demonstration against the provincial executive council’s decision to pass a vote of no confidence against Cde Machaya.
Cde Mpereri said the demonstration was allegedly organised by a group of war veterans in the province who are aligned to disposed leader, Cde Sibanda.
“A report was made to the executive that there was a group of party supporters who had organised a demonstration in protest against the provincial executive council’s decision to pass a vote of no confidence against Cde Machaya.
“We suspect that these are the same people who attempted to demonstrate at the Midlands Zanu-PF Convention and Conference Centre two weeks ago. They were holding placards written “Chairman wedu tinomuda” (we are fully behind our chairman). They were referring to Cde Machaya.
“We also suspect that they have been funded by some individual businesspeople in the city who are pursuing selfish interests and attempting to cause chaos,” he said.
Contacted for comment, Cde Machaya professed ignorance about the planned demo.
He said his ouster was now water under the bridge.
“I am not even aware that there was a demonstration organised by some party supporters protesting my ouster. I have not heard of it. Ini muridzi wazvo ndakapedza nazvo wani (It is now water under the bridge),” he said.
Zanu-PF Midlands province on Sunday passed a vote of no confidence on Cde Machaya on allegations of, among other issues, fanning factionalism and failing to resolve party squabbles that have seen the province going for over six months without a standing executive.
The motion was moved by the party’s provincial secretary for information and publicity, Cde Mupereri, during a provincial executive meeting and seconded by Provincial Youth Vice Chairperson, Cde Prosper Machando.
The vote of no confidence was passed by 44 members out of 50.
Online Reporter