adminCletus Mushanawani News Editor
MANICALAND does not support any sides of the warring women’s league executive members and will stand guided by Zanu-PF’s principals’ decision on the matter, says the party’s secretary for administration, Cde Kenneth Saruchera.
In an interview on Tuesday following a tense provincial co-ordination committee meeting held in Mutare on Sunday which at some stages degenerated in a free for all situation over the contagious issue of votes and counter-votes of no confidence on the women’s league’s provincial leadership, Cde Saruchera, said they were looking forward for normalcy to prevail.
The first to be affected by the no confidence vote was the provincial chairlady, Cde Happiness Nyakuedzwa and was replaced by her deputy, Cde Nokhutula Matsikenyeri.
Cde Nyakuedzwa was accused of disrespecting and undermining national women’s league chairperson and First Lady, Dr Amai Grace Mugabe during her rally held at Mutambara Mission last month.
Barely 48 hours after Cde Nyakuedzwa’s ouster, all those who announced the passing of the no confidence vote on her were also voted out of office at a meeting held at Mutare Hall.
The national political commissar, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, has since written to the province acknowledging receipt of the vote of no confidence petition against Cde Nyakuedzwa and said it was forwarded to the national disciplinary committee for deliberations.
This did not go down well with some members of the women’s league who felt that the matter should have been handled by that respective organ and not the main wing.
During Sunday’s meeting, the woman’s league national spokesperson, Cde Monica Mutsvangwa, drew the ire of some members of the provincial executive when she said Cde Kasukuwere should not have intervened.
Some youths interjected arguing that Cde Mutsvangwa was undermining the authority of Cde Kasukuwere, but she insisted that the matter was a women’s league issue. As tempers reached boiling point, Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development’s aide, David Sanganza, charged at youth executive member, Cde Kudzai Madara and manhandled him.
It was a free for all situation as rival members intervened. The meeting was temporarily halted as there was pushing and shoving among the members.
Police had to move in and quell the disturbances to allow the meeting to continue.
Cde Madara later made an assault report, RRB Number 2591877 at Mutare Central Police station. Stating the province’s position on the issue, Cde Saruchera, said: “All votes of no confidence petitions were forwarded to the party’s principles and we are now waiting for the due process. As Manicaland we are neutral on the whole issue and we don’t support any side.
“We are waiting for instructions from our principals on the issue. This means that we are working with everyone in the women’s league. Our prayer is for the issue to be resolved amicably.”
Cde Saruchera said the same healing process that was used to diffuse tension among the youth league following the passing of counter votes of no confidence should be used in the women’s league fiasco.
“We will abide by the decision made by our principals,” he said. Turning to the ongoing restructuring exercise, Cde Saruchera said they were happy with the ground covered so far as almost 98 percent of the work had been completed.
“After the completion of the restructuring exercise, we will hold inter-district meetings to orientate the new office bearers on the party’s guiding principles.
“The restructuring exercise has actually strengthened the party in the province in terms of organisation and issues of squabbles can now be effectively dealt with. We now have structures which every member of the party will be compelled to work with,” he said.
Cde Saruchera said preparation for the Annual People’s Conference to held in Victoria Falls next month were progressing on well, with accreditation of all districts expected to wind up this weekend.
“We are now focusing on fundraising activities. Each constituency is expected to raise $2 000. Party members are being asked to subscribe. The subscriptions depend on your level in the party as it will increase as we get to the Politburo.
“Our main fundraising event will be the dinner dance to be held on a date to be advised. We are busy setting up fundraising committees.
“We are appealing to well-wishers to donate in cash or kind. Those with cattle, maize, vegetables and fruits can forward their donations to districts or provincial offices,” said Cde Saruchera.
On the province’s resolutions to take to conference, Cde Saruchera, said they had tasked every district to meet and deliberate on their own resolutions which they would forward to the province by today (Friday).
The provincial executive is expected to put all the districts resolutions together and deliberate on them during another PCC meeting scheduled for next weekend.
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