THE problems bedevilling Zanu PF’s Bulawayo province are far from over after the party’s national political commissar Webster Shamu failed to bring the warring parties to heel at a heated meeting last week.
Shamu last Sunday interrogated district chairpersons to get first hand information of the causes of the shambolic state of the party’s structures ahead of possible elections later this year.
Although Shamu was not available for comment yesterday, Bulawayo provincial chairman Isaac Dakamela confirmed the Sunday meeting, but declined to release details.
“We met with Shamu, but I cannot tell you what transpired,” he said curtly.
But sources said Shamu, who was accompanied by Airforce of Zimbabwe Air-Vice Marshal Henry Muchena, who doubles as director of Zanu PF’s commissariat department, quizzed Dakamela over the suspension of the provincial treasurer Simon Khabo, his deputy Kenias Sibanda, secretary for security Robert Ncube, and provincial deputy secretary for indigenisation George Mlala.
The four were suspended last year after they allegedly accused Dakamela of stealing meat and groceries that were donated to President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash that was held in the city in February.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Sources said Shamu lambasted Dakamela and other politburo members for unilaterally suspending the provincial executive members at a time when the party’s structures were ailing.
“We wonder why Shamu didn’t lift the suspensions. It seems he once again walked empty handed from Bulawayo’s Davies Hall after failing to resolve the differences between senior party officials,” said a Zanu PF top aide.
The Media, Information and Publicity minister was in Bulawayo province to mend relations between the fighting factions.
Shamu once told the politburo that the party was not ready for elections because of muddled structures countrywide.
At the 2010 December conference in Mutare, Zanu PF politburo and central committee members instructed the Bulawayo provincial leadership to lift suspension of officials.
Sources added Shamu only promised to communicate the outcome of the Sunday meeting at a later date. The commissar, sources said, chided politburo members who are said to be fuelling divisions in the party.
“The Bulawayo problems are still on, nothing has been solved,” said a Zanu PF member this week.
Last October the Zanu PF Bulawayo executive resolved to sack officials accused of failing to participate in party activities but the resolution was reversed at the Mutare conference.
The re-launch of Zapu escalated Zanu PF’s problems with former provincial executives defecting in droves to the Dumiso Dabengwa-led party. The Dakamela executive came into office in 2008 but has been paralysed by fierce factionalism and alleged corruption.
