By Tirivanhu Kateera

ZANU PF says its National Political Commissar, Victor Matemadanda has not been poisoned contrary to claims awash on the social and private media.

However, the party has confirmed that Matemadanda, who is also the Deputy Minister for Defence and War Veterans Affairs and the Secretary-General of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association, fell sick recently.

The ruling Party’s Acting National Secretary for Information and Publicity; Patrick Chinamasa said Matemadanda was recovering.

“Medical tests are being carried out and the doctors are examining the situation to establish what could have caused such illness. He has since been attended to and is recovering well as other symptoms have disappeared except itchiness of eyes which is still persisting,” Chinamasa said.

He said Matemadanda was recovering at home after being attended to by doctors following his sudden illness a fortnight ago.

“The Commissar’s illness was accompanied by itchiness of eyes, swelling of the body and vomiting that led to him being rushed to hospital,” he said.

A Zanu PF official told this publication that the media pounced on the news of Matemadanda’s illness to fan divisions within the ruling party. H said their detractors flooded social media with claims that the Party’s Commissar has been poisoned by some members of the Zanu PF, a claim that he said was meant to make an impression that there is factionalism within the Party.