Hungwe, Mahofa in trouble

MASVINGO – Psychomotor Minister Josaya Hungwe and Masvingo Provincial Affairs minister Shuvai Mahofa face a battle of their political lives as their rivals who are suspected to be in the Generation 40 (G40) faction are mulling a vote of no confidence against them.

The two have been alleged to have solidly aligned themselves to the rival Team Lacoste faction which is fighting to push vice-president Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed President Robert Mugabe.

TellZim News is reliably informed that 15 suspected G40 legislators from Masvingo and Zanu-PF national Political Commissar Saviour Kasukuwere were summoned by President Robert Mugabe last week for a closed doors meeting where the issue of succession and factionalism in the province was discussed.

It was said that Hungwe and Mahofa were named as the chief architects of factionalism in the province who had to either shape up or ship out.

Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial chairperson Amasa Nhenjana could neither confirm nor deny the allegations levelled against Hungwe and Mahofa but said factionalism was rife in the province.

“I cannot tell you confidently that Hungwe and Mahofa are the architects of factionalism in Masvingo but people do say that. All I know is that when the President appoints you to be his eyes and ears, you have to deliver on that task and defend him at all cost.

“This is not happening in the province. The people who are the eyes and ears of the President have sided with people who insult the First Family. If people start labelling you as the black sheep, one should not feel offended because your actions will be a testimony,” said Nhenjana.

“You find that Mahofa is always attending meetings with war veterans who want Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa to succeed Mugabe. Those meetings are unconstitutional but she attends them. They are the ones who sponsor those meetings.

“When my predecessor Paradzai Chakona was suspended, Mahofa and Hungwe did not like me and they clandestinely give me a vote of no confidence but I did not fight since I knew it was just a matter of time before they got exposed.

“The late Edson Zvobgo said Zanu-PF inonzi sinjonjo tamba wakachenjera but they played dumb and it has come to haunt them,” said Nhenjana. 

He said the party will work tirelessly to flush out all Team Lacoste elements and bring back sanity in the province.

Contacted for comment, Hungwe laughed off all allegations against him saying he does not have any idea of what his rivals are talking about.

Hungwe denied being associated to any faction and said he belongs to Zanu-PF.

“Rumours are circulating with people saying we are the reason behind factional wars in the province but they are nothing but rumours. I am a member of Zanu-PF, that is all I can tell you,” said Hungwe.news