Zanu PF burns in Masvingo

TellZim Reporters

23 Feb 2017 – Zanu PF is literally burning in Masvingo province – the home of factionalism – with the G40 and Team Lacoste factions engaging in ugly fights as they select the new provincial executive today (Thursday).
There was drama at the Masvingo Showgrounds on Sunday during the Provincial Coordinating Committee when newly-appointed acting Masvingo provincial chairperson, Jorum Gumbo came face to face with factionalism.
Gumbo was chairing the PCC meeting but G40 sympathisers booed him before breaking into song and dance to protest against Gumbo’s supposed bias towards Team Lacoste.
Gumbo had to abruptly stop the meeting in order to avoid further chaos.
The youth and members of the women’s league fervently sang the contentious Kumagumo kune nyaya song as if to tell Gumbo that a harmonious end was not a given.
It was party national commissar Saviour Kasukuwere who rescued Gumbo when he stood up to make clarifications and additions to what Gumbo had said.
Gumbo wanted only three people from Masvingo’s seven districts to vote for the executive saying it was impossible for all members in the district structures to vote.
However, it was Kasukuwere’s intervention which brought joy to the G40 faction when he said all the 120 district members would be allowed to vote.
It all started when Gutu South legislator, Dr Paul Chimedza stood up and asked Gumbo to clarify on the composition of the electoral college.
Gumbo tried to evade the question but Dr Chimedza insisted that he be answered. A visibly angry Gumbo threatened Dr Chimedza and asked him to sit down but in an open display of defiance, more MPs stood up in support of Dr Chimedza.
Bikita South MP Jeppy Jaboon tried in vain to be given a chance to make a contribution during the deliberations as Masvingo West MP Ezra Chadzamira, who is the Team Lacoste candidate for chairmanship, kept on pulling him down. As a result Jaboon spent half of the time seated on Chadzamira’s lap as the two fought to stop each other from making contributions.
A day before the chaotic PCC meeting, a total of 17 MPs aligned to the G40 had held a closed door meeting at Flamboyant Hotel where they planned to humiliate Team Lacoste kingpins; Josaya Hungwe and Shuvai Mahofa.
The guest of honour at the meeting was politburo member Daniel Shumba who is also MP for Masvingo Urban. Retired Colonel Mutero Johanne Masanganise, who is the G40 candidate for chairmanship, was given time to explain what he was going to do once elected chairperson.
On the other hand, Team Lacoste held two meetings, one in Chivi while the other one was hosted by Shuvai Mahofa at her Rhodene home.
The Thursday polls will see the stronger faction taking over the provincial leadership.politics