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Nduduzo Tshuma Senior Political Reporter—
ZANU-PF Bulawayo provincial chairperson Professor Callistus Ndlovu was yesterday kicked out of office for the second time in as many weeks after a vote of no confidence was passed on him for undermining President Mugabe and denigrating First Lady Cde Grace Mugabe. The vote of no confidence came a day after the provincial youth and women’s wings gave Prof Ndlovu an ultimatum to vacate office by end of business yesterday or face unspecified action.

Prof Ndlovu’s ouster coincided with a move by the Zanu-PF Women’s League to boot out five national executive members namely secretary for legal affairs and women’s rights Cde Abigail Damasane, secretary for commissariat Dr Olivia Muchena, secretary for information and publicity Cde Nyasha Chikwinya, secretary for indigenisation Cde Albertina Bwititi, and secretary for education Cde Elizabeth Shongedza.

The five were accused of abuse of power, fanning factionalism and working with expelled provincial chairpersons and a faction that wanted to unseat President Mugabe.

They were also found to have supported rowdy youths who disturbed the First Lady’s meet the people rally series and tarnishing the image of the wing.

In a report on state broadcaster ZBCtv outgoing secretary of the women’s league Cde Oppah Muchinguri said she would forward the names of the ousted leaders to the politburo.

Prof Ndlovu appears to have been left in the cold after provincial secretary for administration Cde Elifasi Mashaba read yesterday’s petition flanked by secretary for the commissariat Cde Canaan Ncube and youth wing chairperson Cde Khumbulani Mpofu.

Cdes Ndlovu, Mashaba and Ncube were among the top six provincial executives on whom a vote of no confidence was passed on November 16.

Cde Mashaba said Prof Ndlovu had with effect from yesterday ceased being chairperson after 35 members of the provincial executive council had signed a petition passing a vote of no confidence on the chairperson.

He said Prof Ndlovu faced a number of allegations including undermining President Mugabe by pursuing factional politics and denigrating and insulting the First Lady in articles published in the local media in response to issues that she raised at her Bulawayo rally.

“He has undermined the Unity Accord by falsely claiming in public that it has expired and by making inflammatory statements about the post of Vice President without consulting the Provincial Coordinating Committee,” Cde Mashaba said.

“He has promoted tribalism by publicly declaring that ‘the party’s city centre district will not conduct elections because it is made up of mainly Shona speaking people.’ He has gone further to say at a PCC meeting that the city centre district behaves as if they are a Mashonaland district in exile.”

The petition accused Prof Ndlovu of saying that if Cde Joe Chiyangwa wins the city centre district chairperson’s post, he would resign. Cde Chiyangwa won elections held early this month.

Prof Ndlovu denounced party members who held a demonstration in support of President Mugabe when the head of state was in the city for the National University of Science and Technology graduation.

He allegedly threatened to hunt down and deal with the demonstrators who carried placards castigating expelled war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda and suspended party spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo arguing that they had insulted national leaders.

Prof Ndlovu was accused of interference in the affairs of the party’s youth wing by sponsoring a failed petition against the wing’s leadership on charges that they mobilised youths for the First Lady’s rallies without his permission.

After the failed bid, a vote of no confidence was passed on six members of the youth executive and the petition claims that Prof Ndlovu then insulted Cde Mpofu saying he would not recognise the move.

Prof Ndlovu was accused of interfering in the youth league elections by trying to impose candidates which were later rejected by the Politburo. The provincial executive was unhappy that Prof Ndlovu has, all along not pronounced the province on endorsing President Mugabe and the First Lady ahead of next week’s congress.

The former chairman yesterday declined to comment on the matter saying the action was in violation of the message delivered by Politburo members Dr Sydney Sekeramayi and Dr Obert Mpofu last Sunday to retain him and five members of his executive.

The latest vote of no confidence on Prof Ndlovu brings to nine the number of provincial chairpersons sacked over allegations of fanning factionalism and seeking to oust President Mugabe.

Only Matabeleland North provincial chairperson Cde Richard Moyo has survived the purge.

Meanwhile, Citizens of Bulawayo- a group made up of residents who support the candidature of the President and the First Lady- will today hold a march in support of President Mugabe against coup plotters.

Chief organiser to march William Nyathi called on Zanu-PF members and the rest of society to gather at the Main Post Office at 9am this morning.