Zanu PF factions battle for Harare

Zanu PF factions battle for Harare

• Judge delays Shoko judgment

• Court to rule on Shoko suspension

• 'Garbage Leslie' kicked out

• Chitungwiza mayor suspended

• Chombo puts back Harare poll to 2007

• Another week, another Chombo ultimatum

• Chombo reinstates Chegutu councilors

• Chombo elbows out Chitungwiza mayor

• Chombo's 24-hour deadline for Shoko

• Zanu PF mobs lock out Chitungwiza mayor

• Mugabe bids to lure MDC mayor to Zanu PF

• Mugabe moves to take over cities from MDC

• Mutare mayor damned by Chombo hatchet men

• Mutare mayor: Chombo probe predetermined

• MDC bid to block Makwavarara jaunt

• Makwavarara's US$27 000 Russian jaunt

• Chombo's mistress settles $1,6bn suit

• Chombo's mistress and her famous conquests

• Chombo a love rat, says wife

• Chombo appoints Makwavarara to run Harare

• MDC expels Bulawayo councillor

• More MDC councillors quit Harare council

• MDC withdraws Harare councillors

• Makwavarara: 'I was always Zanu PF'

• MDC to withdraw Harare councillors

• Chombo expels 13 MDC councillors

• Councillors fight suspension in court

• Is Chombo dating Makwavarara?

• Deposed mayor Mudzuri sues Mugabe

• 'I am being harassed' - Mudzuri

• Mugabe fires Harare mayor

• Sibanda denounces Makwavarara

By Lebo Nkatazo

A FACTION of Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu PF party led by retired army general Solomon Mujuru this week lost its bid to control the City of Harare after their point man and President Robert Mugabe’s relative Chester Mhende, was sacked as the city’s turnaround strategist on allegations of insubordination.

A power struggle erupted at Town House three weeks ago, pitting Mhende and town clerk Nomutsa Chideya, with the former saying he was in charge of the town’s affairs.

Mhende, a Zanu PF politician from Norton, Mashonaland West, whose job was not provided for by the Urban Councils Act, was handpicked by Local Government minister Ignatius Chombo, the province’s kingmaker.

Sources said the Mujuru faction had seconded Mhende to Chombo as they had a belief that commission chairperson; Sekesai Makwavarara also from Mashonaland West, was in the Emmerson Mnangagwa camp.

Zanu PF sources told New Zimbabwe.com: “The Mujuru camp is re-strategising. They have now resolved to see to it that Makwavarara goes and their chosen candidate takes over Harare.

"Mujuru's group want to be in charge of everything in Zanu PF. Makwavarara is considered as a political turncoat who belongs to Mnangagwa."

The sources added that although problems at Town House came to the fore last month, cracks began to emerge in September last year.

Commissioners who resolved to fire Mhende rejected his turn around strategy saying it was economically unsustainable. Instead, they settled for another document crafted by Tendai Mahachi.

Mhende’s blue print consisted of radical prescriptions such as firing all council workers and asking them to reapply on an individual basis.

Mhende’s sacking comes at a time when government has shot down a bid by Makwavarara to buy herself furniture worth $35 billion for her use at the mayoral mansion which she currently occupies.
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