Zimbabwe ruling Zanu-PF has fired the seventh of its 10 provincial chairperson — nearly two months after he was arrested for allegedly spying for neighbouring South Africa.
Wealthy lawmaker Philip Chiyangwa lost his post as chairperson of the Mashonaland West province, north of Harare, at a weekend meeting of district party officials who chose his deputy, John Mafa, to replace him, the state media reported on Monday.
Six other provincial chairpersons were fired in December for involvement in a power struggle over the choice of Joyce Mujuru as the nation’s second vice-president.
The fired chairperson favoured parliamentary Speaker Emmerson Mnangagwa for the post that could have put him in line to succeed President Robert Mugabe (80).
Chiyangwa is scheduled to reappear in court on February 11 on charges under the Official Secrets Act carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.
He was arrested along with three other Zanu-PF officials and a banker for allegedly selling secrets to neighbouring South Africa, charges they deny.
They insist they were approached by a commercial South African risk-assessment consultancy for information on economic and political risks, including infighting over Mugabe’s possible successor, not knowing it was a front for the South African intelligence service.
State prosecutors allege they passed on the contents of confidential ruling-party and government documents that they had had access to.
The ruling party has been rocked by divisions ahead of parliamentary polls scheduled for March 31. Three government ministers have been disqualified from contesting the parliamentary election.
Confusion among provincial officials loyal to the fired chairpersons and allegations of rigging and corruption in internal polls to choose candidates for the 120 elected seats in the Harare Parliament forced the party to rerun some polls, delaying the official launch of its election campaign to February 11. — Sapa-AP