VICE President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s wife, Auxillia, who wants to take over from her husband as the Chirumanzu-Zibangwe MP, is facing stiff resistance with Zanu PF opponents said to be opposed to her candidature.
The Chirumanzu-Zibangwe constituency became vacant after Mnangagwa was
elevated to the post of VP in December and his wife immediately declared her interest in taking over the seat.
Last week Zanu PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere warned members against challenging her.
But sources have said that there is resistance among some Zanu PF politicians who are unhappy with her candidature as she is not from the area.
As such, sources said, local politicians were already plotting her downfall in the party’s primaries.
Among those said to be planning to throw spanners in the works are Chirumanzu South MP, Innocent Munanzvi who is said to be pushing some women to enter the race.
The Zanu PF provincial chairperson, Kizito Chivamba, told a lowly attended farewell rally for the VP in Mvuma Saturday that so far, three people had thrown their hats into the ring.
“I have received three names for this constituency but as you heard from the Women’s League, they want a woman. I don’t know what you the people here in Chirumanzu will do. If I was you, I would vote for a person with weight and who can do equally the same task as the now VP,” said Chivamba clearly supporting Mnangagwa’s wife.
But according to well-placed sources, Munanzvi is behind the two other people who want to challenge the VP’s wife on the grounds that she does not hail from Midlands but Mashonaland Central province.
Sources said Munanzvi wants to control the entire region and if Mnangagwa’s wife becomes the MP, it would become difficult for him to accomplish his dream.
“There is a clique of people here who are anti-Mai Mnangagwa and are sponsoring some women to challenge her… the person who is doing this is one Innocent Munanzvi, the MP for Chirumanzu who ensured this rally is poorly attended,” said a top source close to Mnangagwa.
“They seem not to be happy with her coming here but they don’t understand what is happening and the task ahead for this constituency,” the source added.
Munanzvi, whose constituency neighbours Chirumanzu-Zibangwe, was one of the organisers of the farewell rally which was attended by not more than 2000 people mostly provincial leaders from other parts of Midlands.
But when asked why the rally was not well attended, Munanzvi said he had done all he could but “maybe it’s the season which we are in as well as the time that was given to us to organise the event”.
“I can’t oppose Mai Mnangagwa’s entrance here, it’s a lie,” he said before cutting the phone.
Insiders said Auxillia is also facing resistance from the provincial Women’s League.
However, Chief Chirumanzu did not hide his support for Auxillia saying he wanted someone who is respectable and who can access the VP’s office easily to take over.
