Political Reporter
The embattled G40 faction is making frantic efforts to infiltrate and cause mayhem within the ruling ZANU PF Party ahead of the elective congress scheduled for later this year.
A source who spoke to this publication said that last week, former ZANU PF political commissar and G40 kingpin, Saviour Kasukuwere, contacted the Party’s Harare Women’s League Chairwoman, Ratidzo Mukarati, and dangled US$30 000 for her to recruit ZANU PF Women’s League members to support the G40’s bid to wrestle State power.
According to the source, Kasukuwere pleaded with Mukarati to influence the election of weak candidates into the ZANU PF Women’s League National Executive who can later be directed to take instructions from the G40 faction.
The same source added that Mukarati was showered with praises by Kasukuwere that she was an intelligent and powerful woman who should take charge of the Party’s Women’s League National Executive.
“Kasukuwere contacted Mukarati and offered her US$30 000 to influence the election of undeserving candidates into the Women’s League National Executive. The money was supposed to sponsor some candidates ahead of the Women’s League conference slated for later this month. Kasukuwere wanted a ZANU PF Women’s League that he could remote control from South Africa. The plan was for those elected women to cause chaos during the Party’s National People’s Congress scheduled for later this year,” said the source.
According to the source, Mukarati rejected Kasukuwere’s proposal and reminded him that he was now a political nobody who can’t dictate the political pace within ZANU PF.
The source added that Kasukuwere tried the same trick during the build up to the Party’s Youth League Conference. According to the source, the G40 sponsored some Party members who didn’t have a proven track record to be in the National Executive of the Party. However, the sponsored candidates failed to make it to the National Executive as they failed to garner support from their respective provinces.
According to the source, Kasukuwere also tried to ride on the alleged animosity between President Mnangagwa and Buhera South legislator Cde Joseph Chinotimba to recruit the legislator to the G40 camp. The source said Kasukuwere called Chinotimba yesterday enticing him to join the G40 camp. However, Chinotimba shouted at Kasukuwere and told him that his allegiance was with President Mnangagwa and the Party.
Meanwhile, there are reports that there are serious squabbles within the G40 cabal as some members are contemplating re-joining ZANU PF.The likes of former Mashonaland Central Provincial Chairperson Dickson Mafios and Shadreck Mashayamombe are reportedly asking to be readmitted into the Party, even as ordinary card carrying members.
