adminBulawayo Bureau
THE Zimbabwe People First (ZimPF) leadership in Masvingo Province has with immediate effect demoted its chairman, Retired Colonel Claudius Makova, and replaced him with Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) lecturer Dr William Zivenge.
Rtd Col Makova is accused of lacking commitment to the opposition party’s business.
His demotion came as a surprise within the Joice Mujuru-led party as he was regarded as one of the founding fathers and its vanguard in the province.
The demotion also came in the wake of reports of jostling for positions in the party ahead of a national convention slated for later this year.
ZimPF provincial spokesperson Retired Colonel Kudzai Mbudzi confirmed the development saying the move was meant to strengthen the party as the political outfit was looking for energetic and committed individuals in leadership positions.
“We had a meeting recently here where the interim executive was elected and Rtd Col Makova was replaced by Dr Zivenge, who is GZU’s School of Culture and Heritage Studies dean, as chairman. Rtd Col Makova once hinted on retirement. We want energetic and committed people to lead,” said Rtd Col Mbudzi in a telephone interview last Friday.
He said former Zanu-PF provincial member Mr Dzikamai Mavahire retained his position as the national mobiliser in the party adding that war veterans came up with an interim executive while the women and youths were in the process of electing their own.
Rtd Col Makova was expelled from Zanu-PF together with former Vice President Dr Mujuru, former Zanu-PF spokesperson Mr Rugare Gumbo, ex-Secretary for Administration Mr Didymus Mutasa, Mr Mavhaire and former Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Mr Kudakwashe Bhasikiti.
Online Reporter