Machaya booted out as purge on Mujuru allies continues

Machaya becomes the fourth provincial chairman to be forced out through a vote-of-no-confidence passed on all chairpersons aligned to Mujuru whom they accuse of plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe at the congress.

During the provincial executive meeting held at the Zanu PF provincial conference centre, Machaya was voted out by 36 out of the 44 members of the provincial executive members who were present at the meeting.

The motion to push out Machaya was raised by Cornelius Mupereri, the provincial secretary for information and publicity and was seconded by Prosper Machando, the youth assembly vice-chairperson.

Mupereri alleged that Machaya had failed to lead the party including stemming factionalism in the province.

"As a chairman, he has failed to convene meetings on a monthly basis holding only three meetings to date," said Mupereri adding Machaya was "also fanning factionalism and divisions in the province".

"He was violating Article 12 of the party constitution by not attending constitutionally sanctioned provincial rallies in violation of section12 (2) (95) and blatantly chairing kangaroo meetings purporting to be a coordinating committee," said Mupereri.

Kizito Chivamba, Machaya's deputy, will be the acting chairman until fresh polls are held to choose a substantive head.

Machaya who is also the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs becomes the fourth Zanu PF chairman to be shown exit door after the First Lady Grace Mugabe publicly declared that some chairmen must go because they are working with Mujuru to remove Mugabe.

During her whirlwind "meet the people" rallies last month the first lady hinted that a number of provincial chairpersons were working to destroy the party from within.

The first to be ousted was Mashonaland West chairman, Themba Mliswa, with Masvingo's Killian Gwanetsa following next.

Harare province chairman, Amos Midzi, was also ousted last week with Machaya being the latest victim.

Machaya said he had accepted the decision to oust him but will wait for the politburo to pronounce itself on the matter.

"It's true that a motion has been passed for me step down and I did accept that but the politburo is the one that will decide (on the matter)," he said.