Upenyu Chaota

MASVINGO – Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education Professor Jonathan Moyo, who was expected to chair a Masvingo inter-district meeting at the Chiefs Hall over the weekend, left the province in a huff amid reports that he could not face a rival faction Team Lacoste which supports Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa, and allegedly lied that he was rushing to attend another inter-district meeting in Gutu where he never showed up.

Moyo, an alleged architect of another Zanu-PF faction, Generation 40 (G40), cited poor attendance as the major reason for snubbing close to 200 party members who had gathered at the Chief’s hall for the meeting.

The Zanu-PF politburo member met Masvingo senator Clemence Makwarimba and Masvingo West legislator Ezra Chadzamira and few others in town and told them that he was no longer coming for the meeting due to poor attendance, a message which was later passed on to the party members by Makwarimba.

“We met Prof. Moyo in town and he told us that he will not address the meeting because of poor attendance. We were expecting over 800 people today but the turnout is poor probably because there was information break down as well as the sudden change of the venue from Nemamwa to Chief’s Hall by Masvingo Urban legislator Daniel Shumba.

“This meeting was supposed to be an extension of the provincial inter-district meeting we held at Masvingo Poly recently but Moyo could not come here because we are few. We met Moyo in town and he said he was, instead, going to attend another inter-district meeting in Gutu,” said Makwarimba.

Moyo, who chaired a Masvingo provincial inter-district meeting a fortnight ago where Team Lacoste and G40 members heckled each other in front of him resulting in others leaving the meeting, is alleged to have dreaded the idea of confronting the Team Lacoste members and decided to excuse himself citing poor attendance.

Defiant Team Lacoste members who were at the meeting, however, openly denounced G40 by chanting ‘pasi neG40’ slogans.

Masvingo Urban legislator Daniel Shumba who allegedly changed the venue from Nemamwa to Chief’s Hall was also conspicuous by his absence at the meeting.

The visibly angry and hungry members who were served only oranges had no kind words for Masvingo district legislators Shumba (Masvingo urban), Davis Marapira (Masvingo North), Edmund Mhere (Masvingo Central) and Walter Mzembi (Masvingo South) whom they accused of having double standards. 

“Our legislators have double standards; they take us for granted. They were supposed to attend the meeting but only Chadzimira (Masvingo West) is here. We cannot continue with this kind of leadership which is so into factional fights at the expense of building the party. We are happy that 2018 is around the corner and we will certainly boot them out and elect better candidates with the party at the heart,” said a member amid applause from the floor.

Marapira and Mzembi sent apologies saying they were out of the country.

The Gutu inter-district meeting which Moyo said was going to attend, was chaired by another politburo member who is also the Minister of Mines, Walter Chidhakwa.news

Upenyu Chaota

MASVINGO – The recent elevation of Kuwadzana East legislator Nelson Chamisa together with Engineer Elias Mudzuri to position of vice-presidents respectively, was viewed as a well-planned succession plan by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, with majority party supporters in Masvingo saying Chamisa is poised to take over leadership from the former trade unionist.

The appointment came after the MDC-T national executive and national council convened a meeting soon after the return of Tsvangirai from sick leave where he has been recovering from colon cancer.

MDC-T Masvingo provincial executive member commenting on condition of anonymity said the appointment of Chamisa was meant to groom him before he can take over from Tsvangirai whose health has deteriorated.

“Chamisa has the power, zeal and ability. Tsvangirai knows Chamisa is the only person with the qualities to take over and this is the reason he appointed him vice-president in order to groom him before he finally takes over. Mudzuri has a lot of experience and he will assist the young man. 

“Mudzuri is more mature than Chamisa but the latter is the future. Under Tsvangirai’s guidance and Mudzuri’s coaching, there is no doubt that Chamisa will be handed the baton stick from our president. The succession plan has been mapped and it is from these three vice presidents where the next president will be elevated,” said the official.

MDC-T supporters took to social media to congratulate Chamisa for his new post rallying behind him to take over from Tsvangirai.

The Nelson Chamisa for President Facebook page was awash with congratulatory posts with people praising the decision by their president to invest in the party’s future.

“I’m very happy Hon Advocate. Glory to God who knows the future. Aluta continua!” reads one of the posts.

“Makorokoto mukomana tangira pasiirwa naSave I know u can do it. From Vice President to President,” another one posted.

Masvingo who have been behind Chamisa when he lost to Douglas Mwonzora in the race to the Secretary General post, have expressed confidence that Chamisa will take over party leadership from Tsvangirai.

Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka, however, said the appointment of Chamisa and Mudzuri should not be misconstrued since it has nothing to do with succession.

“We all know that 2018 is a watershed election and there is a lot of ground which needs to be covered that is why our President appointed two more deputies to help him.

“President Tsvangirai did not appoint Chamisa and Mudzuri on his own. It was a recommendation given by the party’s National Council. Many will be asking why only people from Masvingo were chosen but in MDC we do not look at where one comes from but the ability to execute your assigned duties.

“I wonder why people talk of succession emanating from these appointments when Tsvangirai is still there. If one day Tsvangirai chooses to step down, there will be an elective congress to decide his successor. He does not have the power to appoint his successor,” said Tamborinyoka.news

Kudzai Matava

GUTU SOUTH – Zanu PF supporters have threatened another ‘Bhora musango'(voting for opposition party) after the Minister of State for Provincials Affairs for Masvingo Shuvai Mahofa banned their favourite candidate from holding rallies in the area.

People from Chihambakwe’s Ward 25 has threatened to vote for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) candidate in 2018 if Mahofa continued to block the incumbent Gutu South legislator Dr Paul Chimedza from holding rallies in the area. The call came after mahofa allegedly dismissed a gathering that was supposed to be addressed by MP Chimedza on July 8, 2016, in Chihambakwe area.

Mahofa is known for opposing Chimedza and, in 2013, she tried but in vain to block the medical doctor from contesting.

Mahofa who is said to be aligned to Team lacoste, a faction that supports Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, allegedly sent Ward 25 councillor Donald Shenjere with the message to disperse the gathering.

Mahofa is said to be supporting Josphat Hungwe to take over the seat in 2018. 

People however, ignored Mahofa’s call and they remained at the venue until Chimedza came and addressed them.

“We are not going to accept Mahofa’s candidate, we want Chimedza to be our candidate. in Zanu PF. If she continues imposing Hungwe on us; tinoita bhora musango (we will vote for the opposition). We did it in 2008 and still we can do it in 2018,” said the angry crowd.

Chimedza took a swipe at Mahofa and urged the electorate to remain focused and concentrate on developing their area.

“I was told by President Mugabe that i must continue to represent my people and i am not going to listen to Mahofa until 2018 when my term is over. We are going to resume all the projects that we stopped after I was suspended. I have been given go ahead by President Mugabe and who is Mahofa to stop me?” said Chimedza.

When contacted for comment, Mahofa said she don’t give comments to TellZim News.

“I don’t speak to TellZim News; thank you,” said Mahofa before she cuts the line.news