… As jostling for Central Committee posts hot up
Brighton Chiseva
MASVINGO – The long standoff between Masvingo Zanu PF leadership has re-ignited again as factions jostle for representation in the Central Committee (CC) with elections drawing closer.
The provincial elections are rumored to be held on October 01 (though no official communication has been made to that effect) and each faction between former Provincial Chair, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira and his foe Robson Mavhenyengwa who is the current provincial chairperson is geared for the polls.
Chadzamira is allegedly fronting President Mnangagwa’s faction at provincial level while his adversary Mavhenyengwa is on Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s side.
Both factions are strategically positioning their candidates as the dates draw closer with each district having three posts in the main wing except for Gutu which has four owing to its size.
Masvingo district has the highest number of people who are vying for the posts where 14 candidates have since thrown their interests into the ring.
Big names in the district include Chadzamira though he is rumored not to qualify for the post due to some technicalities which are not yet clear.
Three central committee members Edmund Mhere who is Masvingo Central Member of Parliament, Maina Mandava and Paul T Ziki are praying for their return in CC.
Benjamin Taguma Mazarire who lost Masvingo Urban seat to then MDC Alliance’s Jacob Nyokanhete and Talent Majoni who lost in Masvingo Urban’s ward 7 are also eyeing posts in the CC.
Edson Zvobgo Jnr who lost in the 2018 primary elections to Mazarire for Masvingo Urban is also among those who threw their Curriculum Vitaes (CVs) together with Masvingo Urban ward 10 councillor and Provincial Deputy Secretary for Disabled in the youth league Sengerayi Manyanga who is a Chadzamira loyalist also eyeing to get into the central committee.
Cell members Charles Muchena, Zvavapo Mutema, Gladys Chari and Petros Mutema are reportedly positioning themselves for positions in CC.
Provincial deputy secretary for education (women’s league) Mucharevei Chamisa and Masvingo District Coordinating Committee Secretary for administration Steven Munyenyiwa have thrown their cards in for Masvingo District.
Chivi District follows Masvingo with 13 members having shown interest with big names being national Secretary for legal affairs Paul Mangwana, Goddart Dunira a former Chivi Councillor and Ephrain Gwanongodza who is a cell member and Chivi Central legislator.
Cell members vying for CC membership include Emina Huni, Elasto Madzingira who is a war veteran, Revon Jaka, Susan Madzivadondo, Tranos Huruba, Clifford Mumbengegwi and Raymond Takavarasha.
Other names include Faith Makaza who is a Central Committee member, Enock Shindi who is the provincial deputy secretary for Commissariat and Elias Chikondere (provincial deputy secretary for economic and development affairs).
Zaka District has Davis Marapira, a cell member and MP for Masvingo North who recently transferred to Zaka, Vincent Mawere a long time member of the central committee, Rtd Brig Gen Livingstone Chineka, a central committee member and Nyasha Gavaza who is also in the central committee.
There is also former provincial chairperson Paradzai Chakona who is a cell member and is eyeing Zaka North constituency in 2023, Tawedzerwa Masase, a cell member and war veteran, and Ophias Murambiwa who is the provincial secretary for information.
Women vying for the CC in Zaka are Nyaradzo Tachiona who is a member of National Consultative Assembly (NCA), Angeline Chipato (NCA) and Laiza Kugedera who is the provincial women’s league secretary for legal affairs.
However, Murambiwa and Chakona’s CVs are rumored to have been thrown away with Murambiwa being alleged not to qualify for not having been a member of Zanu PF for 15 years and haven’t served for five years in the province.
Mavhenyengwa faction has Marapira, Mawere and most probably Brig Chineka and Kugedera with Chakona and Murambiwa being alleged to belong to Chadzamira faction.
In Chiredzi, the battle is between Killion Kalisto Gwanetsa who is MP for Chiredzi South and a cell member, Chiredzi West MP Farai Musikavanhu who is a cell member, Denford Masiya MP for Chiredzi East and a cell member, as well as Alex Siduna who is a war veteran.
Other cell members are Smart Klemo and Kingsley Kanda.
CC members in Chiredzi are Otilia Maluleke and Abraham Sithole then a PCC women’s league secretary for information Mavis Dhemba and Petros Chivinga.
In Bikita district six people have lined up with Rtd General and Politburo member Engelbert Rugeje leading the team and Cecilia Chabaya NCA member.
Cell members eying posts are Bikita West MP Elias Musakwa, Bikita South MP Josiah Sithole Energy Mutodi who is eyeing Sithole’s seat in 2023 and Univester Mukwena.
In Gutu district, the battle is between Secretary for Security in the Politburo Senator Lovemore Matuke, Pupurai Togarepi who is a politburo member and Gutu South MP.
Central Committee Members Yeukai Simbanegavi who is Gutu North MP, Noel Mandebvu, NCA member, Charity Mhondiwa and Gutu Central MP and Secretary for Production and labour Winston Chitando.
War veterans dominate in Mwenezi with Obey Mbiza who is a provincial member, Shepard Kamani, Lisious Matutu Mwenezi DCC war Veterans chairperson and Religious Matutu.
Central committee members include Tafadzwa Shumba and Curthbert Muzara and provincial members Priscila Moyo who is women’s league provincial vice chairperson and Shumirai Muhlatswa.
Other members include Clarah Shumba who is Senator for Mwenezi and Regina Tasiyana who is a district executive member.
Sources who spoke to this publication said a number of popular candidates do not qualify because they haven’t served in the provincial executive for a stipulated time of five years.
“Some big guns have their CVs thrown out because they haven’t served for five years at provincial level.
“Mhere and Chakona’s CVs were also thrown away though no communication has been made yet. However they are said to have been thrown away, but the reasons are not clear while Mhere’s issue is not attending any Central Committee meeting,” said the source.
