THE Zanu PF Women’s League, which last year passed a vote of no confidence in its secretary for administration Espinah Nhari and spokesperson Monica Mutsvangwa, has replaced the two although the politburo is yet to decide the duo’s fate.
Sources close to developments in Zanu PF said the Women’s League held a meeting last Friday where Nhari was replaced by Letina Undenge, the wife of Energy and Power Development minister Samuel Undenge.
Mutsvangwa was replaced by Thokozile Mathuthu as secretary for information. Mathuthu’s post as secretary for transport, sources say, was taken over by Christina Meya from Shurugwi.
“This followed recommendations by the Zanu PF national disciplinary committee chaired by Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko to expel the duo a Women’s League official said.
“The recommendation was made to the politburo but the body is yet to discuss the matter.”
Mutsvangwa and Nhari are said to be aligned to Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa and are strong critics of the Generation 40 (G40) group of young Turks.
The G40 faction is led by First Lady Grace Mugabe, who is also the Women’s League boss.
Nhari was accused of pushing factional politics and undermining the First Family after chanting Pasi neG40 at Grace’s rally in Gutu in December last year.
Mutsvangwa, on the other hand, was suspended for indiscipline and disrespecting party procedure. She is also being accused of disrespecting the First Lady.
Contacted for comment, Women’s League deputy secretary Eunice Sandi Moyo said the league was yet to finalise the replacements.
“Who told you that? We have not yet finalised those issues,” she said.
However, Nhari confirmed she had been replaced but was yet to receive official communication.
“I also understand that Undenge has replaced me although I have not yet received any communication regarding what politburo has passed or will pass,” she said.
Mutsvangwa was not reachable for comment as she was said to be out of the country.
However, last year, Moyo said the Women’s League wanted to cleanse itself of undisciplined party cadres and had recommended the expulsion of the duo.
“The women themselves said the slogan that she (Nhari) chanted was not proper because it pushed factionalism. The issue is not about the First Lady, but about her (Nhari) putting the name of the Women’s League into disrepute by chanting a slogan about G40 which is divisive and meant to divide the party,” said Moyo.
“The women said as a senior party cadre, she was not supposed to say that.”
On Mutsvangwa, she said: “The problem with her case has to do with indiscipline where she did not want to follow the party procedures.
The League wanted to cleanse itself of undisciplined cadres. We don’t expel because we are a wing of the party. We recommend the views of the women that have been made unanimously and overwhelmingly.”-ZimInd
