ZANU-PF national commissar Mr Saviour Kasukuwere yesterday warned the party’s Matabeleland North province to avoid unnecessary and divisive fights.Addressing a Provincial Co-ordinating Committee meeting in Lupane, Mr Kasukuwere said the vindictive attempt late last year to oust senior party members in the run-up to the party’s National People’s Congress should not be repeated.
Mr Kasukuwere said he expected order from a province with the double honour o f having the highest number of Zanu-PF Politburo members and hosting President Mugabe’s 91st Birthday celebrations next month.
Ahead of the December 2014 National People’s Congress, some officials tried to withdraw Mr Jacob Mudenda, Sithembiso Nyoni, Fati Mpofu and Elias Mavule from the Central Committee list.
“Let’s turn a new page in 2015. ‘Let’s respect our members of the Politburo, war veterans, ministers and senators but even us, the elders, let us respect those below us,” the commissar said.
“We should unite and respect each other. We must stop being frivolous. The province must not be a frivolous province which pursues trivial matters…
“I’m saying so because I know this province to be a very stable province. We were very pleased when we heard that in Matabeleland North, there were no problems in provincial and Central Committee but at some point problems started to show.”
Mr Kasukuwere urged the province to concentrate on delivery, and expressed satisfaction that Matabeleland North remained loyal to President Mugabe.
“Let’s continue in that good direction. ‘Don’t get swayed. Don’t sell your souls,” he said.
Mr Kasukuwere said Zanu-PF was stronger after ridding itself of elements who thought they were bigger than the party.
“You have one President, how dare you say I have a province. Whose? Yours? The provinces must belong to the party,” said Mr Kasukuwere.
“Those are President Mugabe’s provinces and should support him. As chairman, you belong to President Mugabe – you are not anyone’s. You are chairman of Zanu-PF under President Mugabe.”
He said provinces were being run by “godfathers” with Dzikamai Mavhaire and Didymus Mutasa controlling chairpersons in Masvingo and Manicaland, respectively.
Mr Kasukuwere called on Matabeleland North to ignore attention-seekers like sacked party secretary for information Rugare Gumbo and Mr Mutasa, who were challenging the legitimacy of the 6th National People’s Congress.
The meeting also learnt from the national youth leadership that preparations for the 21st February Movement celebrations were well on course.  -Sunday Mail