Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has been accused of ordering the arrest of Ezra Chadzamira who is considered a strong ally of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
NewZimbabwe was told that Chadzamira, a ZANU PF chairperson for Masvingo province, was arrested the same week Chiwenga had visited Masvingo. The publication was told:
A day before Chadzamira’s arrest, the vice president was in Masvingo where he addressed sugarcane farmers. It is from this meeting that Chadzamira’s corruption allegations appeared to have emanated from. After the meeting, the VP ordered the arrest of Chadzamira.
A senior ZANU PF official added that soon after his arrest, Chadzamira reportedly contacted president Mnangagwa who immediately ordered his release.
The sources said the factionalism within the ruling party is clearly defined in Masvingo with Zaka North legislator Robson Mavhenyengwa, a purported Chiwenga ally, reportedly conducting midnight meetings plotting Chadzamira’s ouster. An anonymous source claimed:
So far, over four anti-Chadzamira secret meetings have been held but the most crucial ones are the two that were held at (Masvingo North Member of Parliament and Minister of State in the President’s office Davis) Marapira’s Wimpy house. The other meeting was held in Gutu and was chaired by the District Coordination Committee (DCC) chairperson Brian Munyoro.
Another source said Munyoro was clear during the meetings that he was tasked to campaign for Mavhenyengwa with the aim that after elections, Chadzamira will be fired from his current position of Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution paving way for Mavhenyengwa.
The sources said the Chiwenga faction views Chadzamira as a stumbling block in its bid to control the party’s political space in the province.
Mavenyengwa dismissed the allegations as “all stories are lies” while Chiduwa was not eager to discuss the issue.
More: NewZimbabwe