As accurately revealed by ZimEye.com a week ago, former Matabeleland South governor and Bulawayo Senator, Angeline Masuku has been officially kicked out of ZANU PF.
Masuku and 18 other Bulawayo province leaders were suspended by the provincial executive committee for attending a war veterans meeting core addressed by dismissed former war veterans leaders Christopher Mutsvangwa and Jabulani Sibanda.
The ZANU PF Bulawayo Province Coordinating Committee advised the nineteen leaders of their fate at an ill tempered meeting in Bulawayo on Saturday.
Announcing the suspension, the Provincial Chairman Dennis Ndlovu warned that several more were still to be dismissed after investigations on their commitment to the party have been completed.
Violence broke out at the end of the meeting which saw youths from rival factions going to the extent of beating up and chasing after very senior party officials. They (youths) accused the nineteen and their backers for selling out to the Joice Mujuru led Zimbabwe People First party.
Included in the list of suspended leaders are members of a senior ZANU PF decision making body, the National Consultative Assembly. These are Molly Mpofu, Fidelia Maphosa, Oppah Ncube and Elphas Tshuma.
Controversial Provincial Secretary for Transport Victor Mpofu who recently organised transport to ferry war veterans for “an unconstitutional” meeting in Harare and also to the Mutsvangwa – Sibanda meeting was not spared from the looming chop.
NCA member Molly Mpofu was seen involved in heavy fist fights and insults with a number of the youth before challenging a senior male youth leader identified only as Maqhawe Sibanda for a one on one fight which was interrupted as the senior woman was beginning to remove some of her clothing for the fight.
No one from the party offices was in a position to talk to the media about the suspensions and violence. However, the suspensions from the province will be confirmed by the party disciplinary committee at the next politburo next month.