Zim GBC News | Political Correspondent
HARARE – Zanu PF National Chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has been accused of orchestrating a plot to block Sports Minister Anseleem Sanyatwe’s ascent to the ruling party’s powerful central committee, with sources alleging money is changing hands to secure influential positions.
According to impeccable party sources, Muchinguri-Kashiri fears Sanyatwe’s growing influence in Manicaland since his transition from military to political life and is pushing for the co-option of MenBelivED founder Justice Matsatsire into the central committee instead.
“If Matsatsire is co-opted into the central committee, the former army commander would be side-lined from Zanu PF’s top decision making body outside congress,” a well-placed Zanu PF source revealed.
The political maneuvering appears rooted in deeper factional divisions within the ruling party. Sanyatwe is considered a close ally of Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, who has reportedly opposed plans by President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s loyalists to extend his term to 2030.
“Muchinguri-Kashiri is also said to be afraid that Sanyatwe’s entry into politics would threaten her position as the Zanu PF godfather in Manicaland,” the source added.
The plot allegedly took shape during a November 4 meeting at the party headquarters involving Muchinguri-Kashiri, Zanu PF Commissar Munyaradzi Machacha, and the party’s secretary for security Lovemore Matuku.
“On November 4 there was a meeting at the Zanu PF headquarters between Muchinguri-Kashiri, Machacha and Matuku where it was resolved that Justice Matsatsire would be co-opted into the central committee,” the source disclosed.
“Money is already changing hands. All provincial members will be paid US$500 to support the elevation of Matsatsire while blocking Sanyatwe.”
Matsatsire, who has used his MenBelivED organization to campaign for Mnangagwa’s term extension, is considered a Muchinguri-Kashiri ally from Mutasa in Manicaland.
The internal strife highlights growing tensions within Zanu PF, with Vice President Chiwenga having publicly criticized corruption in the party and popularized the “Zvigananda” tag describing controversial businessmen with links to Mnangagwa accused of fleecing the country through inflated tenders.
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