Women’s League chair fired, bigwigs reassigned

THE Zanu-PF Women’s League has relieved Mashonaland West chairwoman for the wing Cde Joyce Mukazhi of her duties and reassigned two top executive members.

Cde Caroline Tsitsi Mugabe, who was the national secretary for finance, becomes the new chairwoman, and will be deputised by Cde Jennifer Mhlanga.

Cde Blessing Chikoto has been appointed the secretary for administration, taking over from Cde Martha Tafirenyika, who now leads the finance department.

Cde Stella Boni was appointed provincial political commissar, taking over from Cde Angela Nyenyai.

The wings’ provincial executive will now run on an interim basis until after the harmonised elections set for later this year.

The provincial leadership has been embroiled in a bitter wrangle between Cde Mukazhi and Cde Angeline Muchemeyi.

The new Cde Mugabe-led executive on Wednesday addressed a provincial meeting at the party’s provincial offices in Chinhoyi.

In an interview after the meeting, Cde Mugabe said her executive was likely to run until elections.

“We were appointed following leadership conflicts that were being experienced in the province,” she said. “Our committee will run the province until the general elections are held.

“There are only slight changes brought in the existing leadership. We felt changing it would do us more harm than good, especially ahead of the elections.”

Addressing the same meeting, Cde Mhlanga, who will also chair the disciplinary committee, called for unity and tolerance within the Women’s League.

She encouraged women to actively contest in the upcoming elections to boost their representation in most local authorities in Mashonaland West Province.

“As women, we are poorly represented in local authorities,” said Cde Mhlanga. “At Chinhoyi Municipality, there is no single female councillor, meaning development is taking place minus our voice.”

Cde Mhlanga urged the provincial party leadership to desist from abusing resources that are meant to benefit ordinary party members.

“In this new chapter we have opened today, let’s desist from short-changing party members at grassroots level of their benefits,” she said.

“That alone has a huge impact on them; they might end up abandoning the party if they feel being duped. Instead, our thrust should be marketing our brand so as to lure people to the party.

“The new dispensation is being well received by many people across the country, so let’s take advantage of that to lure them.”