ZANU PF has blocked the nomination of several officials involved in the ill-fated 2004 Tsholotsho Declaration into its central committee despite endorsing former Information and Publicity Minister Jonathan Moyo's return. Moyo, who was singled out as the ring leader for the group that wanted an overhaul of the Zanu PF presidium bounced back into the party two months ago after he re-applied.

Recently, he was nominated by the Tsholotsho District Co-ordinating Committee for a seat in the party's Central Committee.

But while Moyo was celebrating, it was a different story for his former comrades in Manicaland and Mashonaland West.

Although the whole list of those whose dreams were shattered in Mashonaland West was not immediately available, it has been confirmed that in Manicaland former chairperson Mike Madiro and Freddie Kanzema who were nominated by the Zimunya-Marange district were dropped.

Zanu PF officials said despite the duo's "resounding" victory against Manicaland governor Chris Mushohwe and Morton Malianga respectively, Madiro and Kanzema had their nomination turned down by party heavyweights in the province.

"Madiro beat Mushohwe in the elections for the central committee, but the leadership turned down his nomination, saying there were still issues about his participation in Tsholotsho," a source said.

"On the other hand, Kanzema's nomination was also turned down.

They said his nomination could not be approved because he is too young to be elected ahead of Malianga.

This is the second time Madiro's nomination has been turned down.

"The people also wanted him to be provincial chair, but he was blocked for the same reasons," the source said.

It is understood that among the officials who blocked Madiro and Kanzema's return were provincial chairperson Basil Nyabadza, Zanu PF secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa and Mushohwe.

"Nyabadza feels threatened by Madiro's return because given his popularity among the party's supporters, he can easily bounce back as the chair," said the source. The two are also understood to have been against Mutasa's bid for the party chairmanship, which he lost.

Zanu PF deputy spokesperson Ephraim Masawi was not immediately available for comment. Mutasa was also not reachable.