BULAWAYO: Placard-waving members of Zanu PF Womens’ League on Wednesday picketed against deputy chairperson Eunice Sandi-Moyo and Finance Secretary Sarah Mahoka at the party’s provincial headquarters here.
The demonstration was reportedly part of ongoing efforts to elbow the duo out of the executive as factional wars continue to tear the ruling party apart.
The Women`s League is led by President Robert Mugabe`s wife, Grace, who is thought to be keen to take over from her 93-year-old husband.
Party sources said the first lady was moving to rid the league of vocal executive members before the party introduces the women’s quota in the presidium.
Grace supposedly leads the so-called G40 faction of the ruling party which is engaged in a bitter succession war with another grouping said to be backing vice president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Sandi-Moyo, provincial affairs minister for Bulawayo, and Mahoka were previously thought to be key G40 allies of the First Lady with Mahoka, last year, publicly savaging Mnangagwa as watched.
Now the two are accused of undermining the authority of Grace and “always opposing her during meetings”, prompting Wednesday’s protest.
Some of the placards at the demonstration were written, ‘Sandi ‘Hit-Lier’ Moyo’, ‘Mahoka The Factional Mother’, ‘Musangano Hauputswe NeNhiyo Dze Gamatox’.
A petition was distributed during the demonstration calling for the two to step down from their executive posts.
“Mai Sandi wants to take over as secretary of the Women’s league and she is working in cahoots with some national members to fight the First Lady.
“Mahoka insulted the First Lady in front of the national Women’s League and falsely accused Amai of writing placards against her. Mahoka has been going around all provinces abusing the First Lady’s name and authority.
“Mahoka went further to insult VP Mnangagwa in public and to challenge the work of the Permanent Secretary George Charamba,” the petition read in part.
Similar demonstrations were to have been held in other parts of the country.
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