By Christopher Makaza
Chaos has rocked the National Patriotic Front (NPF) party as members are divided on who should lead the party with majority of the country`s provinces preferring Kwekwe Central House of Assembly member, Masango Matambanadzo to self-exiled former Zanu PF Political Commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere.
Matambanadzo is reportedly bankrolling the party after former First Lady, Grace Mugabe who had pledged to fund the party failed to honour her pledge.
Matambanadzo`s home province, Midlands and Mashonaland West province, are among the provinces in support of his party presidency.
At a recent meeting held in Bulawayo, a group of about sixty people from pro Matambanadzo provinces were barred from the meeting fearing that they would prop up Matambanadzo`s leadership.
Due to lack of funding, the party formed a movement named, ‘Savior Save Us’ which is being coordinated by the party`s National Political Commissar, Jim Kunaka.
Addressing attendees at the meeting, Kunaka said, “The movement is our party`s brain child which we will market as a non-partisan pressure group to boost membership. Provincial Chairpersons will be roped in as coordinators of the movement.”
Another thorny issue threatening to tear apart the party is that some members are advocating for an interim leadership while others want the party to wait for the 2020 congress.
During the meeting, acting leader Eunice Sandi Moyo allegedly called Kasukuwere for guidance on the issue to which the latter advised them to take the congress route.
According to a contact in the party, Kasukuwere has failed to win the hearts of the people with his #TysonWabantu movement.
“Kasukuwere is no longer popular with the electorate. His corrupt activities during his term of office in both Zanu PF and government are haunting him. The movement`s WhatsApp groups which are trying to market him are flooded with negative comments with people dismissing his bid to rule Zimbabwe, hence people are now preferring Matambanadzo,” he said.
Kasukuwere has also been attacked by other G40 members for his close association with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) citing that the EFF is a politically immature party.
