The ruling ZANU-PF yesterday said the dissolution of the factional fighting infested party’s structures in Bulawayo and Harare is aimed at addressing problems that have resulted in the party perennially losing elections in the two metropolitan provinces.
Last week, Zanu-PF First Secretary Emmerson Mnangagwa dissolved all the party’s structures in Bulawayo and Harare as the factional fights in the two provinces escalated.
In an interview with state media yesterday, the party’s Secretary for Administration, Obert Mpofu, said Vice President Constantino Chiwenga will superintend finding solutions the party’s affairs in Harare while Vice President Kembo Mohadi has been assigned to oversee structures in Bulawayo.
He said Mnangagwa’s deployment of his two deputies shows the party’s seriousness in rebuilding structures. Party members have previously complained to Mnangagwa that there are still some G40 sympathisers within the party provincial structures and accused them of sabotaging the party by working with the opposition MDC.
“The party has always performed badly in Bulawayo and Harare in national elections. That is why we have one or two seats in the two provinces. The party is looking at all the operations in all provinces with a view to strengthening them. That’s why you have these initiatives headed by the Vice Presidents. It shows the seriousness with which the party considers structures throughout the country,” Mpofu said.
In the harmonised elections held last year, Zanu-PF only claimed a seat each in both Bulawayo and Harare.
Mpofu said he cannot comment on the assignments of Dr Chiwenga and Mohadi in the provinces.
Prior to dissolving structures in Bulawayo, Mpofu was assigned to address problems affecting the province.
He said money, lies and gossip were weakening the party’s structures in the province.
Mpofu had to censure party members who were angling for the Bulawayo provincial chairman’s post following the death of provincial chairman Callistus Ndlovu.
Zanu-PF is set to roll out a nationwide restructuring exercise to strengthen the party’s grassroots structures.
Source State Media