SMALL and Medium Enterprises minister Sithembiso Nyoni’s political career is once again on the brink, as Zanu PF’s Matabeleland North province has renewed efforts to get her fired. Chief Reporter
Immediately after the party’s congress in Harare, the Matabeleland North Provincial executive council held a meeting, where they felt Nyoni had insulted them and should be recalled from both her lofty government and Zanu PF posts, it has been learnt.
What drew the ire of the provincial executives was that Nyoni had reportedly described them as shallow after an abortive bid to oust her ahead of the Zanu PF congress earlier this month.
A provincial co-ordinating committee (PCC) meeting to announce Nyoni’s fate has now been slated for mid-January.
Provincial chairman Richard Moyo told Southern Eye yesterday that he only read sentiments in the media, but did not rule out the matter being raised during the January PCC meeting.
“As chairman, I only read about it in the newspapers and heard party members in the province talking about it,” he said.
“However, as for now, I am not sure whether the PEC (provincial executive committee) raised the matter in its meeting as the report hasn’t been brought to the PCC.”
Nyoni seats in the provincial co-ordinating committee meetings.
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“The PCC will have its first meeting between January 15 and 20 and I hope she would be asked to clarify the claims,” Moyo said.
Nyoni, the Nkayi North legislator, reportedly said the provincial leadership was shallower than she had previously thought and reached key decisions based on rumours.
Despite being described as the most united Zanu PF province in the country, factional fights within Matabeleland North are escalating.
Ahead of the party’s congress, the province unsuccessfully tried to have Nyoni and Speaker of Parliament, Jacob Mudenda thrown out. The manoeuvres were reportedly led by Transport minister Obert Mpofu.
This reportedly led to a showdown at one of the politburo meetings, where Mpofu was chastised and said to have the body of an elephant and the mind of a rat.
Provincial treasurer Stars Mathe has in the past accused Nyoni of sponsoring a faction led by ousted Vice-President Joice Mujuru with vehicles.
Scores of Zanu PF members, including ministers linked to Mujuru have been sacked.
To date President Robert Mugabe has fired Mujuru and 16 ministers believed to be involved in the alleged plot to oust him.
