Talent Chivange
Samson Mukanduri
Beatific Gumbwanda
ZAKA -The Zanu PF intra-party ructions are now reaching even the lowest party structures, with Zaka East witnessing some serious discord which have seen incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency, Samson Mukanduri, sparring with youth league member, Talent Chivange, whom he suspects to be harbouring ambitions to take over the seat from him.
The brawl stems from the donations Chivange has been making to disadvantaged children in the constituency.
Mukanduri is said to be worried that Chivange is using the donations as a springboard to politics which will see him ultimately contesting the seat in the Zanu PF primaries ahead of the eagerly anticipated 2018 general elections.
Chivange, who admitted his charity efforts are being disrupted by Mukanduri, said he has no political ambitions.
“I am surprised that Mukanduri is misinterpreting my noble intentions. I am just trying to help people from my home area and I don’t have any political ambition. The problem is that he is insecure because he knows he is doing nothing for the people there,” said Chivange.
People who spoke to this publication on condition of anonymity said a jittery Mukanduri is dead afraid of being out-competed that he has began telling villagers to reject Chivange’s donations and is wrapping in councillors in his efforts to smear Chivange by labeling him a People First member.
Councillor Fortune Maputsa of ward 30 is being mentioned as one of the councillors that have been recruited by Mukanduri to frustrate Chivange’s alleged political ambitions in Zaka East.
Maputsa, however, denied having anything to do with the brawl saying he is not taking any orders from anybody.
“I am not receiving orders from anyone and for any further questions I refer you to the council chairman,” said Maputsa.
Other people also made it clear that Mukanduri is not doing his job saying the two terms he is serving as MP have seen him doing nothing tangible for the people.
“We now need a change of leadership. Mukanduri has been our MP for two terms but he has done nothing compared to the late Tinos Rusere,” said one villager from the constituency.
When contacted for comment, Mukanduri denied reports of bad blood with Chivange saying he does not even know him.
He, however, warned that there were rules to be observed in Zanu PF saying nobody can just walk into his constituency and do their programmes without his blessing.
“I am not aware of the existence of Talent Chivange but we have protocols in Zanu PF and you can’t overstep those protocols. If he is there, he should go through our offices at Jerera.
“Anyone who wants to get into my constituency should contact me first before doing so. So tell him that he should contact me so that I will organise meetings for him,” Mukanduri said.
He also denied ever barring people from attending Chivange’s meetings.news
