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Nduduzo Tshuma Senior Political Reporter—
OUSTED Zanu-PF Matabeleland South chairperson Cde Andrew Langa has been accused of diverting seed maize and mealie-meal donated by First Lady Grace Mugabe to members of his faction so they could use the looted donations to campaign for Central Committee positions. The seed maize and mealie-meal donated by the First Lady during her Meet the People tour in Gwanda was allegedly used to buy votes to ensure that Zanu-PF provincial secretary for lands and resettlement Cde Jabulani Phetshu-Sibanda and secretary for legal affairs Cde Jeremiah Langa were voted in as Central Committee members in Insiza district on Monday.

Politburo member Cde Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu lost to Phetshu–Sibanda.

During a meeting to gather signatures for a petition to nullify the results at Zanu-PF Insiza district offices in Filabusi yesterday, Cde Langa’s wife Clara was accused of distributing the alleged looted donations.

The petitioners recommended to the party that Cde Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu be given a place in the Central Committee.

They also passed a vote of no confidence on Cdes Jeremiah Langa, Phetshu Sibanda, Moffat Sithole, Clara Langa who is the deputy women’s league chairperson, Nkosilomusa Langa, Insiza South legislator Malach Nkomo, Ndabayabo Ndlovu provincial youth secretary for legal affairs, Olene Mpofu, secretary for health and child welfare and Vongai Mpofu the women’s league secretary for health and child welfare on grounds that they were part of Vice President Joice Mujuru’s faction bent on toppling the President.

Reading the petition to members that included war veterans, war collaborators, ex-detainees and restrictees, party district and provincial members, Zimbabwe Liberation War Collaborators district, provincial secretary for administration Cde Dennis Dube said they were not happy with the way the elections were conducted.

“The two candidates Jabulani Phetshu-Sibanda and Jeremiah Langa were seen moving in vehicles belonging to Minister Andrew Langa carrying seed maize accompanied by Cde Moffat Sithole, Zanu-PF provincial deputy secretary for security,” read the petition that was directed at Matabeleland South Elections Directorate and was sent to the Gwanda provincial offices after the disgruntled members appended their signatures.

It was said one vehicle distributing the looted donations was driven by Cde Phetshu -Sibanda while the other was being driven by Cde Langa’s driver Sebastian Muwirimi. The petition stated that Clara confirmed that the seed maize belonged to the First Lady.

“First Jabulani Phetshu-Sibanda was not supposed to contest the central committee post in Insiza as a vote of no confidence was passed against him and Minister Langa on the 10th of November 2014.What has made the situation worse is that Jabulani Phetshu-Sibanda and Jeremiah Langa used the First Lady’s donations which were stocked at Clara Langa’s house to buy votes,” read the petition.

Clara was alleged to have confirmed giving Cde Phetshu-Sibanda seed maize while a member of the district women’s league confirmed receiving it.
It was said Cde Phetshu Sibanda “lied’ claiming the maize was for chiefs but follow ups revealed that it was not the case.

The petition stated that this was done on Sunday before Monday’s elections, a clear confirmation of vote buying. “Therefore we as petitioners have resolved that the elections be nullified as the two candidates used the seed maize to buy voters,” read the petition.

It was alleged that some ward chairpersons slept at Cde Langa’s lodge before the day of the elections and afterwards.
Insiza South legislator Cde Malach Nkomo and Minister Langa were alleged to have addressed voters at the lodge. “The house recommended that our long standing member of the politburo Cde Naison K Ndlovu and Cde Spare Sithole be members of the Central Committee because of their persistence and commitment to party activities,” read the petition.

After the petition was read, Cde Langa’s brother and deputy provincial secretary for the commissariat Cde Johnson Langa popularly known as Vakatsha blasted Cde Mujuru, saying she and her group were being used by Western powers to destroy Zanu-PF from within.

“You read in the papers that Mujuru had engaged a hit squad to shoot the President. With this we say down with Mujuru and her followers,” said Vakatsha.
He said removing Cde Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu from the Central Committee on grounds that he was old, exposed the plot that they also wanted to remove the President on the same basis. He said Cde Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu was mature enough not to follow factions.

Cde Spare Sithole said people should not hesitate to condemn Cdes Langa and Mujuru as they had been exposed. “We have heard that they want to assassinate the President. What has he done? Because he speaks the truth?”

He said there are a number of times when Cde Langa insulted the President and state security members, but the incidences were never reported.
Cde Million Ngwenya said they would not allow the election to sail through with Cde Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu excluded from the Central Committee.
One of the youths, Cde Thulani Dlamini, said Clara came to the election venue with a number of women and started singing.

Cde Dlamini said when a member of the security forces dissuaded her and her group from making noise; Clara and her crew started demonstrating against him.

Cde Langa yesterday denied claims that he had interfered with the elections and said he does not belong to any faction. He said it was unfortunate that most of the people who gathered at the meeting were not members of the provincial structures. “I don’t belong to any faction. My allegiance is with His Excellency President Mugabe. I’ve never been aligned to any faction. I’ve never been seen with any factional leader. In fact I worked so hard to ensure that the party wins in the last elections,” said Cde Langa.

He said it was important for the party to go to next week’s Congress united and emerge stronger afterwards. He urged his brother Vakatsha to first handle his family matters before engaging in politics.

Cde Clara Langa declined to comment saying, “I’m a child of Zanu-PF, I am only cleared by the party to comment. I’m afraid I can’t comment.”
Cde Phetshu-Sibanda laughed off at the allegations saying it was expected because after elections, losers are always bitter. “People must learn to be man enough and accept defeat. It’s not the end of the world neither is it the end of one’s career. Even soccer supporters know that their team won’t always win.

Everyone goes for an election with the hope of winning but I always give myself allowance of about 45 percent of defeat so that I do not suffer from stress. There is life after elections,” he said.