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Nduduzo Tshuma Senior Political Reporter
ZANU-PF secretary for administration Cde Didymus Mutasa was yesterday accused of sidelining Matabeleland North in the allocation of party vehicles as the province did not belong to his faction.

The revelations were made yesterday by politburo member Dr Obert Mpofu at a Provincial Congress Coordinating Committee meeting in Lupane.

Dr Mpofu said he had engaged party national chairperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo and the First Lady Grace Mugabe when she came for her Meet the People tour in the province but Cde Mutasa’s office kept on blocking the vehicles.

He said he approached Cde Nicholas Goche who told him that a vehicle had been availed to the province but it later emerged that it was diverted to a “young woman” who was not from the province.

“Matabeleland North hasn’t received a party vehicle and the last we got was when Cde Thokozile Mathuthu was still secretary for transport. I raised the money to buy all the vehicles that were allocated to other provinces but surprisingly my province was left out because we don’t belong to a faction,” said Dr Mpofu.

He said after raising the matter with Cde Mutasa, he promised to give the province a vehicle only later to say there were no vehicles.

Dr Mpofu said Cde Mutasa ended up giving the provincial chairperson a used vehicle with a mileage of more than 60,000 kilometres that was taken from some farm and in a bad state.

He said elections generally caused divisions and as a province they had resolved that the centre of power should be President Mugabe so that he could make appointments for all positions under him.

“What brought factionalism is that positions were elected by provinces. The President should choose those that he wants to work with. It has turned out that some of the people he trusted are the very ones who want to destroy him,” he said.

“You can’t be a father when the mother and children are busy working to remove you.”

Matabeleland North becomes the second province to make the resolution for President Mugabe to choose people to positions after acting Bulawayo provincial chairman Cde George Mlala during the week revealed that they had passed a similar resolution.

Dr Mpofu urged provincial members to attend party meetings regularly and not only come when there were vacant positions. He singled out provincial secretary for administration Cde Clifford Sibanda who he said should attend party meetings.

He said the province which came second last to Bulawayo at last year’s conference in Chinhoyi, had topped all provinces in terms of discipline and orderliness and respect for President Mugabe.

Matabeleland North is the only province whose chairman, Cde Richard Moyo, was not sacked through a vote of no confidence.

Dr Mpofu said senior party members should unite and develop the party and avoid the indiscipline being witnessed in other provinces.

“Our report for the Congress in the last politburo was number one. We got a rousing applause in the meeting,” said Dr Mpofu who revealed that the province had raised more than $200,000 towards the holding of the Congress.

He congratulated Cde Headman Moyo for being voted vice chairman of the war veterans under Cde Chris Mutsvangwa revealing that he had advised them to campaign for the position.

“There were some abalesiyezi who didn’t agree. Some still think along the lines of Jabulani (Sibanda). Jabulani got himself where he is, no one sent him, and he shouldn’t blame anyone for his predicament. Don’t get yourselves involved in those things because you will find yourself in crossfire,” said Dr Mpofu.

He advised Cde Moyo to work with the people or else he would also be removed.

Dr Mpofu said factionalism did not benefit Matabeleland so there was no need to get involved.

“Even those aspiring for Vice Presidency shouldn’t divide people. I heard that some were meeting at lodges promising people positions. You don’t give people positions,” he said.

“We heard some people met in Gweru to select a Vice President for us. The kangaroo meeting under the leadership of Cde Cephas Msipa was said to have been convened to choose a Vice President. We don’t support that, I’m happy that as Matabeleland North no one attended that meeting.”

Dr Mpofu said from the more than $200,000 raised towards the Congress, the province would use part of the money to build party provincial offices.

He said they got word that Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Constantine Chiwenga would provide soldiers once building material for the offices was available.

Dr Mpofu said the plan for the building had been done and members of the army had perfected it.

The province is expected to hold central committee elections today.