Suspended Women’s League chair vows to stay put
BULAWAYO Province Zanu-PF Women’s League boss Cde Eva Bitu has vowed to stay put even after her alleged suspension saying the move was clearly the work of “factional fighting” within the party.
In an interview with Sunday News yesterday, Cde Bitu said her suspension was not procedural as the motion was moved by Cde Butho Ngwenya and seconded by a member of the Youth League. Cde Ngwenya is a member of the Central Committee.
She said she remained the Women’s League chairperson in the province until such a time when her bosses in the Women’s League recalled her.
“They think and say they have suspended me but they are playing. They have no power whatsoever to suspend me on frivolous and fictitious allegations that I convened a Provincial Co-ordinating Committee (meeting). Those are just part of the factional fights that the main wing is seized with. It is common knowledge that the chairman is a Sandi (Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo) person so my crime is that they say I was instrumental in removing Sandi but that is a blue lie because for the record Sandi was not fired by me or anyone. She resigned and I still have a copy of her resignation letter. Why are they fighting me on behalf of Sandi I do not know. She resigned because she had misused funds among other allegations,” she said.
Cde Bitu said those who were targeting her were even consulting traditional healers to cause her death.
“They are fighting me and they are serious. They are even consulting traditional healers. I think they want the car that I was given by the party. These fights can only end when the party realises the need to hold elections to choose the people’s chairman which the clique is clearly afraid of,” she said.
Cde Bitu added that she hadn’t been given an official letter of her suspension almost a week after the alleged verbal suspension.
“These guys are simply chasing the interests of their handlers. They are not themselves. They operate with a template from (Cdes) Sandi, Killian Sibanda, Malaba (Godfrey), Violet Ncube and Rose Phiri. I will only listen to my bosses and not these guys who are being handled. I really feel for Cde Dennis Ndlovu (provincial chairman). Munhu waMwari anenge achitambudzika zvake (He is just a troubled soul). He knows what is right but he has no power. He is told what to say and do and that is unfortunate,” she said.
Cde Bitu said the other problem with the current executive was that they were dividing the party along tribal lines. Provincial party chairman Cde Ndlovu was not committal on the issue of suspension saying that was done by the vice-chairman.
“Off hand I cannot tell you the charges. It was handled by the vice-chairman and I do not even know if he had since served her with the letter. I normally do not want to talk about things I am not very sure of,” he said.
He said the correct procedure was supposed to be taken, adding that she could remain chairperson for as long as she had not been served with the official suspension letter. Cde Ndlovu refuted allegations that he was operating with a template from either Cdes Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo or under fire Political National Commissar Cde Saviour Kasukuwere.
Six provincial women’s league members were suspended for allegedly taking orders from the organ’s former national Deputy Secretary, Cde Nomthandazo Eunice Moyo.
The six are Cdes Margaret Moyo Zvipore (commissar), Tariro Zhou (security), Rose Stinta (gender and culture), Sibonginkosi Maphosa (administration), Junior Ndlovu (education) and Revai Kawusiyo (deputy information secretary) were suspended following the executive’s meeting of 6 May 2017. Cde Eva Bitu was suspended last Sunday together with secretary for transport in the province Cde Nokuthula Sibanda bringing to eight the number of Women’s League executive members on suspension.