admin
Harare Bureau
AS the crunch Zanu-PF National People’s Congress starts in Harare today, indications are that some party heavyweights are likely to fall by the wayside for their alleged involvement in the plot to oust President Mugabe from power.
War veterans in Matabeleland North province at the weekend demanded the ouster of national chairman Cde Simon Khaya Moyo, while in Masvingo the Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial executive council recommended the withdrawal of Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister and Politburo member Cde Kudakwashe Bhasikiti from the Central Committee list.
Zanu-PF politburo member and Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi also came under fire from traditional leaders and war veterans in Mashonaland East who accused him of being part of Vice President Joice Mujuru’s faction that has been plotting to topple President Mugabe.
Already heavyweights such as Vice President Mujuru and her alleged backers among them Cdes Webster Shamu, Nicholas Goche, Didymus Mutasa, Ray Kaukonde, Walter Mzembi, Francis Nhema have lost their bid to secure Central Committee seats.
The national traditional inheritance, Kingdom, Chieftainships and the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association in Mashonaland East yesterday demanded that Cde Sekeremayi be booted out.
They said Cde Sekeramayi was the point man for VP Mujuru’s faction who was misleading the politburo about developments in the party especially in Mashonaland East province.
“It’s known that he (Cde Sekeramayi) is one of the remaining people who have been planning to topple President Mugabe,” said leader of the Kingdom, Chief Nehoreka in Harare yesterday.
“He caused the arrest of war veterans who went to push Ray Kaukonde out when he phoned Minister Kembo Mohadi to order that they be arrested.
“He also removed Cde Patrick Makombe who had been selected by the war veterans to be the acting chairperson by imposing Phineas Chiota who is also part of their gamatox team.
“We want Sekeremayi out. He has overstayed his welcome by conniving to turn against the President.”
In Masvingo, Cde Bhasikiti was implicated in the promotion of factionalism in the province and also protecting Western-linked companies suspected of being involved in attempts to effect regime change in Zimbabwe.
The Masvingo provincial affairs minister was narrowly elected into the Central Committee during last Tuesday elections after he beat Cde Cuthbert Muzara by 73 votes to 69 in the fight for one of Mwenezi District’s three slots.
Cde Muzara was recommended to take Cde Bhasikit’s place.
Zanu-PF acting Masvingo provincial chairman Cde Paradzai Chakona said they had forwarded the recommendation for Cde Bhasikiti’s withdrawal from the Central Committee to the Politburo.
In Matabeleland North war veterans demanded the removal of Cde Khaya Moyo whom they accused of snubbing Amai Grace Mugabe’s Meet the People Tours around the country recently among other accusations.
Online Reporter