By Staff Reporter
Harare – Zanu PF Harare’s provincial leadership, led by chairperson Godwills Masimbarembwa and his deputy Ephraim Fundukwa, is under fire for allegedly weaponizing party protocols to purge potential rivals ahead of the 2026 provincial elections.
Critics accuse the duo of flouting procedural rules to consolidate power, sparking accusations of factionalism and procedural violations.
Former Harare South MP Shadreck Mashayamombe has emerged as a key target.
On March 12, Fundukwa suspended Mashayamombe from all party activities, accusing him of organizing members to “undermine the Party and its leadership” by advancing a “factional agenda.”
However, the suspension has been met with internal resistance.
A Zanu PF Politburo member, speaking on condition of anonymity, declared the suspension “null and void,” citing breaches of protocol.
“Disciplinary actions must originate at the branch level, not the province,” the Politburo member emphasized.
“Mashayamombe’s suspension is a non-event because proper procedures were not followed.
“A cell member can only be suspended by the branch, not the province.
“If there was a need for a disciplinary hearing, Mashayamombe should have appeared before the branch, not received a suspension letter from the province,” added the Politburo member.
The source accused Fundukwa and Masimbarembwa of exploiting their positions to sideline Mashayamombe, a likely contender for provincial chairperson, warning that such actions risk deepening factional divides.
“Fundukwa’s unilateral suspension disregards party ethos, exposing a personal vendetta rather than a legitimate process,” the Politburo member added.
The controversy reflects broader tensions within Zanu PF.
Zanu PF national chairperson Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri recently condemned the misuse of party resolutions, particularly Resolution 1, which endorses President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership until 2030, to “settle scores” and stifle competition.
Speaking at a special State of the Party indaba in Harare, Muchinguri-Kashiri criticized provincial leaders for “barbaric political bickering” that fuels divisions, urging adherence to due process in disciplinary matters.
“It is shameful for any leader to engage in primitive and barbaric political bickering that divides the party. Such behaviour only benefits opposition forces,” Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri said.
Critics argue the Harare South purge is part of a recurring strategy.
In November 2023, Masimbarembwa and Fundukwa orchestrated the suspension of 10 members under similar pretenses, consolidating control ahead of internal elections.
Analysts view Mashayamombe’s suspension as a tactical replay, designed to eliminate rivals while bypassing party structures.
Muchinguri-Kashiri’s rebuke highlights a growing rift between Zanu PF’s national leadership and provincial powerbrokers, whose aggressive tactics risk undermining Mnangagwa’s unity rhetoric.
With internal elections approaching, observers warn that unchecked factionalism could destabilize the party’s cohesion, emboldening opposition forces, a scenario Muchinguri-Kashiri explicitly cautioned against.
