The Zanu PF Midlands province, the home base of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has nullified all disciplinary processes against some of its members who were accused of de-campaigning the party’s candidates ahead of the August 23 and 24 elections.
According to a report by Newsday Zimbabwe, the province had suspended several members, including Mnangagwa’s ally and former Gokwe-Nembudziya legislator Justice Mayor Wadyajena, on charges of sabotaging the party’s candidates. However, the hearings for the suspended members were scheduled to be conducted yesterday but were cancelled at the last minute after party spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa intervened.
Acting provincial chairperson Edson Chiherenge issued a notice on Tuesday, addressed to all district co-ordinating committee (DCC) chairpersons and senior provincial members, stating that the hearings and prohibition orders were no longer valid.Â
“Please be advised that the acting Midlands provincial chairman has ordered the nullification of all disciplinary processes within the Midlands province,” part of the notice read. “All notices of hearings and prohibition orders issued out are no longer valid.”
Bhora Musango Plot
The move comes amid reports of a bhora musango plot in Mnangagwa’s backyard, where disgruntled members were allegedly plotting to undermine the party’s candidates in the elections. Bhora musango is a term used to describe a strategy of voting for the opposition or abstaining from voting to spite the ruling party.
Wadyajena, who lost to Flora Buka during the primaries, was accused of disrupting her campaign rallies. Several other party members who lost in the primaries faced the same fate, amid indications that as many as 360 members faced the chop.
On Monday, Mutsvangwa reminded party members of a politburo directive stopping arbitrary suspension of party members. Mutsvangwa made the order after Midlands and Harare provinces had embarked on an exercise to purge members who worked against the provincial leadership.
Zanu PF’s Electoral Performance
Zanu PF won the majority of seats in the parliamentary elections, but faced a stiff challenge from the opposition MDC Alliance, which claimed that the polls were rigged. Mnangagwa was declared the winner of the presidential election with 50.8% of the vote, narrowly avoiding a runoff with MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa, who got 44.3%.
The opposition has rejected the results and filed a petition at the Constitutional Court, seeking to overturn Mnangagwa’s victory. The court is expected to deliver its ruling by Friday.
Despite the challenges, Zanu PF has vowed to implement its electoral manifesto, which promises to revive the economy, create jobs, fight corruption, and re-engage with the international community. The party has also expressed its willingness to dialogue with the opposition and other stakeholders to foster national unity and development.
