Zanu PF chairperson Oppa Muchinguri Kashiri has been accused of hatching a plot to block Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture minister Anseleem Sanyatwe’s rise to the ruling party’s central committee amid allegations that money is changing hands for influential positions.
Muchinguri Kashiri, who is said to be fearful of Sanyatwe’s growing influence in Manicaland since he left the army to join active politics, is allegedly pushing for the co-option of MenBelivED founder Justice Matsatsire into the central committee.
If Matsatsire is co-opted into the central committee, the former army commander would be side-lined from Zanu PF’s top decision making body outside congress, which will mean that he remains a junior ranking member in the province.
Sanyatwe is considered a close ally of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who is opposed to plans by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s loyalists to extend his term by two years to 2030.
Muchinguri-Kashiri is also said to be afraid that Sanyatwe’s entry into politics would threaten her position as the Zanu PF godfather in Manicaland.
Impeccable sources said the Defence minister had a meeting with Zanu PF commissar Munyaradzi Machacha and the party’s secretary for security Lovemore Matutu where the plot to block Sanyatwe was discussed.
“On November 4 there was a meeting at the Zanu PF headquarters between Muchinguri Kashiri, Machacha and Matuke where it was resolved that Justice Matsatsire would be co-opted into the central committee,” a well-placed Zanu PF source said.
“They also resolved to find all means possible to block Lt General Sanyatwe from being co-opted into the central committee due to his links to VP Chiwenga.
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“Money is already changing hands. All provincial members will be paid US$500 to support the elevation of Matsatsire while blocking Sanyatwe.”
Matsatsire, who has used MenBelievED, a Zanu PF affiliate to campaign for Mnangagwa’s term extension and is a close ally of Muchinguri Kashiri, is from Mutasa in Manicaland.
He is also close to controversial businessman and Zanu PF benefactor Kudakwashe Tagwirei.
At the Zanu PF conference held in Mutare last month, Tagwirei was drafted into the central committee under controversial circumstances.
Tagwirei, who is also close to Muchinguri-Kashiri, Matuke and Machacha after being united by their quest to block Chiwenga’s rise to the presidency, is believed to be funding the exercise to block Sanyatwe.
The Zanu PF source said Sanyatwe’s profile since he moved into civilian life as a cabinet minister is perceived as a huge threat to Muchinguri Kashiri’s political stature in Manicaland.
Sanyatwe was Zimbabwe National Army commander before he was retired by Mnangagwa in March this year in a move many observers said was an act of coup-proofing.
“Muchinguri Kashiri is afraid of power shifts in the province. She is afraid that Sanyatwe might overtake her as the godmother of the province,” the source added.
“She is also afraid that if Sanyatwe rises in provincial structures, he can whip the whole province to support VP Chiwenga.”
Chiwenga has been critical of corruption in Zanu PF and popularised the tag Zvigananda to describe controversial businessmen with links to Mnangagwa, who are accused of fleecing the country through opaque and inflated tenders.
At the Zanu PF conference, the VP spoke forcefully against corruption and the personalisation of Agenda 2030, which has now been turned into a campaign slogan for the 83 year-old ruler to extend his rule.
