(Last Updated on February 9, 2016 by Editor)
ZIMBABWE – ZANU-PF national commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere and some members of the Women’s League are reportedly organising a demonstration against Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) chairman Cde Chris Mutsvangwa and Presidential spokesperson Mr George Charamba at the party’s headquarters tomorrow to counter a threat by war veterans to bar Professor Jonathan Moyo from attending the Politburo.
At least 61 buses have been mobilised to ferry people today from various provinces.
Part of the fleet is understood to have been mobilised by Cde Kasukuwere in his personal capacity.
The demo was called under the cover of a solidarity meeting aimed at congratulating President Mugabe for his achievements as African Union chairman and his recent appointment as AU rapporteur.
This is despite the fact that a solidarity gathering for the President’s AU achievements was held at Harare International Airport upon his return from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on January 31.
The claim that the event seeks to celebrate the President’s appointment as AU rapporteur is out of order in that the position is not new, but a natural route every outgoing chairperson takes for administrative purposes.
A crowd of about 10 000 people mainly women and youths is expected.
Surprisingly, Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said he was not aware of such an event.
Under normal circumstances, the office of the national spokesperson is the one that should deal with events of national appointments.
“I am not aware of it,” he said.
“Maybe you can check with the secretary for Administration (Cde Ignatius Chombo) because I was not briefed about it.”
Some provincial chairpersons, who spoke to The Herald yesterday questioned the authenticity of the event, saying the communication was not conveyed through normal party structures.
Masvingo provincial chairperson Cde Ezra Chadzamira said: “All party communication comes through circulars, but for this one, I was told by the (provincial) Women’s League chairperson Mai Makonese that she just received a phone call from Harare.
“We don’t know where the resources for that event are coming from, but I heard that a bus is coming, but I don’t know from where.”
In the Midlands, provincial chairperson Cde Kizito Chivamba said he had not received any official communication from the commissariat relating that event.
“I did not attend last Friday’s meeting with the national commissar, but my vice who attended did not brief me about anything relating to such an event,” he said.
“I don’t know if the commissariat has chosen to leave our province from that event. They will be the best to answer that.”
Cde Joel Biggie Matiza, who is the Zanu-PF Mashonaland East provincial chairman said there was no clarity from the national commissar on the purpose of the gathering.
“I am yet to get clarity from the national commissar (Cde Kasukuwere). So can you call later.”
The Youth League, which is touted as the major contributor to the event, said it was waiting for guidance from the President.
The league’s secretary Cde Pupurai Togarepi said: “We report to the President. We have to consult his office first. We have heard about that being announced at different fora that people will be coming on Wednesday but we have to consult.”
The Herald is reliably informed that the event was not being organised through normal party structures, but through designated individuals and selected constituencies.
“In Manicaland for instance, people are coming from Chimanimani, Makoni and Buhera,” said a source close to developments.
“Mrs Letina Undenge is the co-ordinator in the province. In Midlands, people are coming from Cdes Makhosini Hlongwane, Tapiwa Matangaidze and Chiratidzo Mabuwa’s constituencies. Mrs Smelly Dube is co-ordinating the operations.
“Minister Tabeth Kanengoni is in charge of coordinating people in Mashonald Central.”
Cdes Kanengoni and Dube could not be reached for comment last night while Mrs Undenge and Cdes Matangaidze and Mabuwa denied being part of the organising team of that event. They referred questions to the national commissariat.
“I am not involved. I am not privy to the details,” said Cde Matangaidze.
Said Cde Mabuwa said: “I am actually hearing it from you. I do not organise anything because I was suspended from the Women’s League. I am operating from the cell level.”
A Politburo member who spoke to The Herald yesterday said the President should not allow certain elements pushing personal interest to abuse party structures.
“I think this should just stop. When President Mugabe was appointed African Union chairman, why did we not gather people to celebrate?
“Now that he is a rapporteur, which is an exit post from AU affairs, we say we want to celebrate. This is just a plot to cause an orchestrated clash with war veterans who have also threatened to come at the party headquarters tomorrow.
“The President should just stop this thing because it is going to be nastier, even more than the MDC’s final push. It is not in the best interest of the party.”
Messages are also being circulated on the social media WhatsApp platform, on a false pretext that there would be a special Women’s League in Harare tomorrow.
Some of the messages seen by The Herald read: “Be advised that there will be a special conference for the Women’s League in Harare on 10th February 2016. The following are required: women’s national executive members, all provincial members of the Women’s League, chair lady and political commissar per party district. Party district chairpersons are thus urged to advise their chairladies and their political commissars accordingly as a matter of urgency.”
Cde Kasukuwere last night said: “It is a gathering to thank the President for what he has done for the nation and also his successful tour of the AU.
“It will be a disciplined thing, and the talk of violence is madness. There is no room for violence. It is uncalled for. There will be lots of women and youths and those who support the President. We have mobilised resources here and there, and people in provinces will use their own fuel, as always. There is no special fund.”
Mashonaland West and Central provinces, together with Harare confirmed that they were mobilising to attend the event.
Efforts to get a comment from the deputy secretary for the Women’s League Cde Eunice Sandi-Moyo were fruitless as her mobile phone was not reachable.