ZANU PF Politburo to decide on Manicaland Central Committee dispute

By Itai Mazire

ZANU PF has moved to calm tensions in Manicaland Province following conflicting directives over the co-option of Presidential Advisor Dr Paul Tungwarara into the party’s Central Committee, with party spokesperson Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa saying the matter will now be resolved by the Politburo.

Ambassador Mutsvangwa said there had been “an appearance of needless confusion” regarding the nomination, but stressed that the party maintains full respect for decisions taken by provincial structures.

“There is an appearance of needless confusion concerning the nominations for the Central Committee replacement in Manicaland province,” he said.

“The correct position is that the party takes serious respect for the deliberations of the provincial leadership. It is an important organ of the party, particularly for Manicaland, which is the second most populous province after Harare.”

ZANU PF Manicaland province has publicly backed Dr Tungwarara, insisting the businessman and philanthropist remains its preferred candidate for co-option into the Central Committee.

The support comes after National Political Commissar Cde Munyaradzi Machacha issued a circular on Thursday directing the province to reverse the December 7 co-option, declaring it “nullified with immediate effect” on the grounds that it violated internal procedures requiring replacements to come from the same administrative district as the outgoing member.

Ambassador Mutsvangwa said the dispute would be handled through established party processes, as was done in a similar case in Harare Province, involving Presidential Advisor Dr Kudakwashe Tagwirei.

“The appearance of confusion will be addressed in the usual manner as was done in the case of Harare Province, and it will be done at the Politburo level,” he said.

“For anybody who has got anxieties about what is going on, hold your gun.

“The Politburo will meet and the matter will be considered, and a due finality will be delivered on the matter of the Central Committee nomination for Manicaland.”

The Politburo is expected to make a final determination once it convenes.