GWERU – The $50 million criminal defamation lawsuit filed by the wife of the party’s secretary for legal affairs Emmerson Mnangagwa against Midlands provincial minister, Auxillia, is widening fissure in Zanu PF as it emerges the party is divided right in the middle over the litigation perceived a firm confirmation President Robert Mugabe’s party is imploding.
STEPHEN CHADENGA OWN CORRESPONDENT
Sources told Southern Eye there were intense debate, gossip and rumour-mongering in the corridors in Zanu PF over the merits and demerits of Auxillia’s legal action.
On Tuesday Auxillia and four other top officials reportedly filed a $50m lawsuit against Machaya after his (Machaya) elections agent wrote a petition to the party to take disciplinary action against the five for electoral fraud.
Machaya’s chief elections agent in the recent party provincial polls, Douglas Kanengoni, filed a petition accusing Auxillia, Gokwe Kana MP, Owen Ncube, Zhombe MP, Mackenzie Ncube, Douglas Tapfuma and former governor, July Moyo for making frantic efforts to rig the elections in favour of ex-deputy provincial chairperson Larry Mavhima.
In filing the lawsuit against Machaya, the officials said they felt defamed and that the move could have ripple effects on their political careers.
However, Zanu PF spokesperson, Rugare Gumbo yesterday told Southern Eye that the move by the officials to sue Machaya was unfortunate though it was their democratic right.
Gumbo, however described the development as a non-event and “taboo”, as infighting in the party reaches a crescendo.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
He admitted the litigation did not augur well for the party critics were adamant it would further compound factionalism in Zanu PF which is presently battling to fulfil its populist election promises.
“The move is a non-event and quite taboo in the party. Of course they made personal choices and while it is their democratic right, they were proper channels to follow in the party instead of taking fellow colleagues to the courts,” Gumbo said.
But officials said the party was in a quandary over the issue, pointing out it was making it difficult to deal with internal matters due to the fact that it involved the wife of a top boss of Zanu PF, perceived by some as the heir apparent to Mugabe.
Observers said the move by the officials to file a lawsuit could further widen the tension between members aligned to politburo member and Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and others on Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s side.
Mavhima is said to be aligned to the Mnangagwa faction with Machaya believed to be a Mujuru ally.
Both Mnangagwa and Mujuru have publicly denied they led rival factions in Zanu PF jostling to succeed Mugabe when he eventually decides to exit the political scene. Mugabe has intimated he would not be quitting anytime soon due to internecine fights within the liberation movement.
The recent provincial elections were marred by irregularities as both camps jostled to position themselves ahead of the party’s congress scheduled for next month in Chinhoyi.
Though Machaya narrowly beat Mavhima for the post of chairperson, the latter has dismissed the results as “contaminated and rigged” and filed a petition to the party calling for fresh polls.
Machaya said he could not comment much on the move to sue him saying it was the officials’ choice.
“Well, it is their democratic right to choose whatever path to follow that is all I can say,” told Southern Eye in a brief interview.
Maxwell Saungweme, a political analyst based in Kabul, Afghanistan, said the litigation confirmed Zanu PF was ravaged by internal fights as the race to succeed Mugabe intensified in the party. “It shows that things are not well for Mugabe and his party. Things are heating up,” Saungweme said.
“Mugabe’s major challenges for his new term were the economy and succession issue. He seemed, thus far, to have failed on both issues. The factionalism countrywide is indicative of the succession issues not managed properly. He and his party are facing their greatest challenges. For the economy, they have completely failed; they cannot even put together a budget. Mugabe must be in great distress because of these two issues.”
