Mahofa and the chefs little secrets

Africa Confidential said Mahofa may hold sordid details about pastime activities of some of the Zanu (PF) top leadership during the liberation struggle than they would want known, which explains why she has survived the dog-eat-dog fights within the party.

In a party split between the two factions led by defence minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and retired army general Solomon Mujuru, the stocky Masvingo politician has somehow managed to manoeuvre her way around the obstacles.

Last month she surprisingly got a second bite of the cherry during elections to choose a new leadership of the Zanu (PF) Womens League.

After being peeped to the position of secretary for the commissariat by womens affairs minister Olivia Muchena, Mahofa was allowed to enter the race to head the security portfolio.

After an unprecedented secret ballot, the pro-Mujuru Olivia Muchena from Mashonaland East beat Shuvai Mahofa, a Mnangagwa loyalist from Masvingo and a colourful old lady who during the liberation struggle ran a rest and recreation network, observed Africa Confidential in its latest newsletter.

It said the Zanu (PF) bigwigs had to compensate Mahofa for the loss by giving her the security portfolio.

She probably knows more about the leaders peccadillos than they would like, the think-tank said.

Mahofa could not be reached for comment on her role during the liberation struggle.

Elections to select the new Zanu (PF) Womens League executive were marred by violence as rival factions threw chairs at each other.

Several delegates had to receive treatment at an improvised casualty station, and a few went to hospital.

The Womens League is one of the key organs of Zanu (PF) and is expected to play a leading role at the partys fifth congress scheduled for December which will shape the partys leadership and policies for the next five years.