Mashayamombe
was
suspended
from
Zanu
PF
last
week
accused
of
a
number
of
transgressions
that
include
allegedly
fanning
factionalism
and
disrespecting
the
party
leadership.
He
joins
nine
others
who
have
been
so
far
suspended
in
Harare
province
on
the
same
allegations,
particularly
for
allegedly
supporting
Vice-President
Constantino
Chiwenga
in
the
ruling
party’s
succession
war
which
was
framed
as
disrespecting
party
leadership.
Sources
have
however
claimed
that
Mashayamombe
was
being
purged
to
clear
way
for
Masimirembwa’s
reelection.
This
was
after
it
emerged
that
party
structures
have
been
begging
him
to
challenge
Masimirembwa
and
revive
the
fortune
of
the
party
in
Harare
where
the
party’s
popularity
continues
to
fall.
Party
structures
accuse
Masimirembwa
and
his
deputy,
Ephraim
Fundukwa
of
many
charges
that
include
grabbing
land,
abusing
party
infrastructure
and
weaponising
the
ED
2030
campaign
to
purge
political
enemies.
Fundukwa
has
been
implicated
in
several
land
scandal.
He
is
accused
of
leading
an
invasion
of
land
owned
by
CFI,
popularly
known
as
401.
He
is
also
accused
of
invading
land
by
the
toll
gate
where
a
lot
of
illegal
structures
have
sprouted,
together
with
land
belonging
to
Boka.
The
growing
dissatisfaction
in
Masimirembwa’s
executive
manifested
last
month
when
party
supporters
snubbed
the
restructuring
exercise
that
was
marked
with
severe
apathy,
claiming
they
feared
being
forced
to
chant
ED
2030
slogans.
Sources
said
Masimbarembwa
and
Fundukwa
were
underfire
for
weaponising
the
2030
agenda
to
purge
potential
rivals
ahead
of
the
2026
provincial
elections.
“Masimirembwa
is
aware
that
people
are
pestering
Mashayamombe
to
take
over
as
provincial
chairperson.
He
is
also
aware
that
he
wont
win
against
Mashayamombe,”
a
party
insider
said.
However,
the
suspension
has
been
met
with
internal
resistance.
A
Zanu
PF
Politburo
member,
speaking
on
condition
of
anonymity,
declared
the
suspension
“null
and
void,”
citing
breaches
of
protocol.
“Disciplinary
actions
must
originate
at
the
branch
level,
not
the
province,”
the
Politburo
member
emphasized.
“Mashayamombe’s
suspension
is
a
non-event
because
proper
procedures
were
not
followed.
“A
cell
member
can
only
be
suspended
by
the
branch,
not
the
province.
“If
there
was
a
need
for
a
disciplinary
hearing,
Mashayamombe
should
have
appeared
before
the
branch,
not
received
a
suspension
letter
from
the
province.”
Mashayamobe
said
he
had
not
been
served
with
an
official
letter
of
suspension.
Sources,
however,
said
Masimbarembwa
was
seen
as
a
frontrunner
for
the
post
of
provincial
chairperson.
“Fundukwa’s
unilateral
suspension
disregards
party
ethos,
exposing
a
personal
vendetta
rather
than
a
legitimate
process,”
the
Politburo
member
added.
The
controversy
reflects
broader
tensions
within
Zanu
PF.
Last
week,Zanu
PF
national
chairperson
Oppah
Muchinguri-Kashiri
hit
out
at
party
officials
for
weaponising
the
2030
agenda
against
political
opponents.
“It
is
shameful
for
any
leader
to
engage
in
primitive
and
barbaric
political
bickering
that
divides
the
party.
Such
behaviour
only
benefits
opposition
forces,”
Muchinguri-Kashiri
said.
“Allow
me
to
put
the
21st
National
People’s
Conference
Resolution
Number
1
under
the
spotlight.
Party
Leadership
has
observed,
with
dismay,
the
abuse
of
the
resolution
and
the
weaponization
of
the
‘2030’
slogan.”
Zanu
PF
adopted
a
resolution
to
extend
Mnangagwa’s
term
of
office
at
its
annual
conference
held
in
Bulawayo
last
year.
“The
resolution
is
a
collective
outcome
which
cannot
be
monopolized
by
a
few
individuals
for
personal
gain
and
glory,”
Muchunguri
said.
“These
few
individuals
are
now
exploiting
the
resolution
and
the
2030
slogan
to
provoke
discord
and
petty
disciplinary
cases.
This
must
stop
forthwith.”