Loughty Dube
25 July 2008
Harare — DIVISIONS within Zanu PF, which appeared to have disappeared following the shock March 29 election setback, have returned to haunt the party after Vice-President Joseph Msika recently labelled some party functionaries in Matabeleland as sell-outs.
Sources in the ruling party said Msika's utterances have stirred a hornet's nest in the region, with some senior Zanu PF officials who claimed the ageing leader was referring to them vowing to bring him down.
"The divisions which rocked Matabeleland provinces before the last congress (in 2004) have resurfaced and this time there is anger over Msika's sell-out statement," said one of the sources.
Msika two weeks ago threatened to expose a cabal of politicians from the region whom he accused of working with unnamed people in Harare to "destroy" provincial leaders in the hope of being rewarded with ministerial appointments.
"There are leaders in this region who think that they will be ministers through gossiping about others with leaders who are based in Harare," Msika said.
"To those unscrupulous party leaders in Harare, do not think I cannot see you trying to put your stooges in the region. You are reckless and careless."
Msika further threatened to publicly name those that he claimed were divisionist in the region.
The sources, however, said after Msika's comments were published in the press there was a furore with some provincial leaders engaging Ministry of Information and Publicity permanent secretary, George Charamba, complaining that the state media should bar the coverage of the veteran politician.
Zanu PF sources were unanimous that Msika's message was directed at war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda, Industry and Trade Minister Obert Mpofu and Bulawayo Governor Cain Mathema.
"Sibanda and Mpofu have President Mugabe's ear when it comes to issues affecting the region and this has been irritating the senior leadership who say they have no mandate of the region and Msika's outburst confirms that the divisions in the region are far from over," another source said.
The sources added that the senior leadership that was present at the victory celebrations could have influenced Msika's statements as most of them do not see eye to eye with some of the people Msika alleged were causing divisions.
Msika at the meeting further claimed that PF Zapu was still alive and had not been swallowed by Zanu-PF.
Msika's controversial statement, however, is set to further exacerbate the rifts within the party.
The victory celebrations were attended by Zanu PF politburo, central committee and National Consultative members who included Zanu PF secretary for Youth, Absolom Sikhosana, Matabeleland South Governor Angeline Masuku, Minister of Small Enterprises Sithembiso Nyoni, Matabeleland North Governor Sithokozile Mathuthu and Zimbabwe's ambassador to South Africa Simon Khaya Moyo, among others.
Efforts to get a comment from Msika were fruitless at the time of going to press.
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Yes Baasi! Wena Baasi!Clearly you are a rhodie. Typical mindset of your type is always to get Afrikans permanently at war as has happened in the DRC since the deaths of Dag Hammersshold and Lumumba way back in the 1960s. You want war in Zimbabwe. You wont get it my friend because we do not have Kikuyus, Luos etc in Gt zim. Tsvangirai hails from the same soil as RMG. By the way there are hundreds of RMG's fellow Zimbabweans with better and bigger mansions .... some are the President's neighbours. Come and see for yourself. Are you jealous?? Let… [Read Full Text]
Respect and deference are earned. RMG earned the respect he had but how can that buy him deference forever? Real leaders are always held to account for their performance. He is no longer worthy of the respect he once held.
Military language
ZANU-PF only knows military language. Listen, obey, execute and sing Mugabe's praise!!
Rats will start abondoning the sinking ship in ever increasing numbers in the coming weeks and months. The genocide in Matabeleland and the recent killings, maiming and rape have tarnished the name ZANU-PF to the extent that sooner or later that name will be thrown into the history basket.
In the meantime, people should join in encouraging more dissent until the party gets wiped off the scene. Let those in the tarnished party whose hands are clean set up a new party with a new vision… [Read Full Text]
shut up you muzungu
Prem..prem.. who the hell are you? can't you see what the whiteman is trying to do to our great nation. He is aware that this day and age slavery would not work.So what does he do, he creats civil wars, sanctions and economic hardships such that fools like you would run up to them in the name of political asylam and offer them cheap labour.Wake up you idiot....
How much I would wish I were wrong! I pray that my adversaries were right that Mugabe, at the helm, can bring freedom, justice, peace, harmomy, prosperity, etc!!
I am only taking stock of the past and interpreting the present. Why should those who do not accept my interpretation treat me as an idiot, fool and what not??
Are they not showing intolerance which maverick Mugabe takes to the extreme to wipe off supporters of his opponents? Chiki and the likes would surely hack me to pieces should I come in their sight!
What ahs been proven times and… [Read Full Text]
"maverick is a person who shows independence of thought or action, a non-conformist." Prem, you do Mr. Mugabe great honor. Thanks.
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What about Mugabe selling out to the Chinese?!? He did get a £4.5million mansion for it though. Lucky bugger!