Published by the government of Zimbabwe
2 November 2009
Harare — President Mugabe has lashed out at factionalism in Zanu-PF's Harare province, saying it is threatening stability in the province.
In his opening statement at the 78th Ordinary Session of the Central Committee at the party headquarters last Friday, the party's First Secretary said the problems were being caused by people who failed to understand that the party belongs to the people.
"There is quite a lot of infighting in the party, but if we put the party first, there will be no infighting.
"In Harare, tinongonzwa kuti kune faction ya(Cde Hubert) Nyanhongo, kune faction ya(Cde Amos) Midzi na(Cde Tendai) Savanhu. Hatidi kunzwa kuti kune faction yanhingi nekuti party ndeyevanhu," he said.
Elections to choose the party leadership for Harare province have been abortive since last year. The restructuring process has been riddled by accusations and counter-accusations of irregularities that have led to demonstrations resulting in fist fighting in some cases.
However, a Politburo meeting on Thursday last week declared that the elections would be held on Saturday this week. Supporters from the Cde Nyanhongo-led faction also staged a demonstration last Friday denouncing some Central Committee members and Cde Savanhu accusing them of trying to push Cde Midzi into the chairmanship.
President Mugabe urged the leadership in the province to minimise the conflict for the benefit of the party.
"We should try to avoid personal interests because we want people who raise the name of the party.
"The demonstrations like the one we saw on Thursday are factional demonstrations. We want demonstrations against sanctions, not demonstrations against the party.
"It's completely wrong. This is a party headquarters and we must demonstrate our national thrust here, a positive thrust," he said.
The Harare Province has been without a substantive leadership for more than a year as the restructuring of party organs from cell, branch and district to district co-ordinating committee failed to take off because of the controversy dogging the restructuring process.
An attempt to hold elections ahead of the National People's Conference in Bindura last year failed because of the non-existence of structures.
The late political commissar, Cde Elliot Manyika, invited other provinces -- Mashonaland East, West, Central, Midlands and Masvingo to restructure party organs in Harare, which has six DCC and 148 districts.
However, elections conducted by acting political commissar Cde Richard Ndlovu on December 14 at the party headquarters with Cde Nyanhongo sweeping into power, were nullified by the Politburo because of fighting that erupted during the polls.
Harare Metropolitan provincial governor Cde David Karimanzira, was appointed acting chairman with the two factions sending an equal number of delegates to Bindura.
Party national chairman Cde John Nkomo was also tasked to lead an ad hoc committee to see through the exercise and teams are also set up to help in the restructuring.
However, allegations that some central committee members are accused of trying to manipulate the exercise.
Meanwhile, both Cde Nyanhongo and Cde Midzi last week said they were geared for the election on Saturday.
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