By Dorrothy Moyo|  ZANU PF leader, President Emmerson Mnangagwa dropped the heavy hammer on his liberation war colleague, Sydney Sekeramayi, analysts say.

Sekeramayi’s name was pushed into the succession debate before Operation Restore Order last year when G40 front-man Robert Supiya spoke on ZimEye.com saying he is the best placed to replace then President Robert Mugabe.

The quiet politburo member, Sekeramayi, carries with him credits as Zimbabwe’s liberation hero with the longest history having joined liberation politics back in 1957.

Many in the Lacoste faction dominated ZANU PF party have continued to attack Sekeramayi saying he is a G40 faction leader despite him having clearly distanced himself from the G40 weeks before the November transition last year. There has thus been much rumour mongering about his standing in ZANU PF politics.

This emerged yesterday as Sekeramayi and Marble Chinomona warned party officials on gossiping about him (Sekeramayi).

Sekeramayi who was humiliated by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in ministerial posts after the November coup, told members of the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) in Marondera members should avoid causing divisions.

“I urge those who thrive on gossiping which I call political foot and mouth disease to avoid causing divisions in the party and allow the primary elections to be conducted peacefully,” said Dr Sekeramayi.

“We don’t expect members to be divided during the primary elections, we expect you to conduct yourselves in a mature way,” Chinomona weighed in.
Zanu PF Mashonaland East Provincial Chairperson, Joel Biggie Matiza explained the rules and regulations governing the conduct of primary elections.

“Any member who does not abide by the rules and regulations governing the primary elections risk being disqualified,” he said.

Meanwhile, analyst Itai Jomwe said “Sekeramayi suffered the purging that traditionally comes whenever ZANU PF renews itself.”

“It will take him time to rise up, ” said Jomwe. – Additional reporting state media