MASVINGO – The return of former politburo member Dzikamai Mavhaire to ZANU-PF has been met with mixed reactions in Masvingo, with some party members expressing discontent over the process of his readmission.
While the provincial leadership has welcomed Mavhaire back into the fold, the Masvingo District Coordinating Committee (DCC) has raised concerns about procedural irregularities, alleging that his return was imposed from above without proper consultation at the district level.
According to party sources, established protocol dictates that a formal request for readmission should originate from the individual seeking to rejoin the party. This request would then be considered by the district executive, which would make a recommendation to the Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC). The PCC would then forward its recommendation to the national executive for final approval. However, in Mavhaire’s case, this process appears to have been bypassed.
“We were shocked to just see pictures of Mavhaire with the President and the provincial leadership,” revealed a party insider.
Masvingo DCC Chairperson Tawanda Dube confirmed that while Mavhaire’s return is acknowledged, the district was not formally involved in the process.
“We are happy as a district that he is back,” Dube stated, but the statement seems to mask underlying tensions regarding the perceived disregard for established procedures.
Provincial Chairperson Robson Mavhenyengwa defended the decision, arguing that Mavhaire’s previous standing as a politburo member warranted a direct readmission from the top echelons of the party.
“If the President or any other authority asks us to welcome a returnee, then who are we to refuse?” Mavhenyengwa questioned.
However, speculation abounds within the party, with some suggesting that Mavhaire may have intentionally circumvented the district executive, fearing his application could be rejected.
“Mavhaire is a threat to many in the province, so he saw that the district would mock and block his return,” a party insider speculated.
Before rejoining ZANU-PF, Mavhaire was closely aligned with opposition leader Nelson Chamisa and frequently spoke at Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) rallies, criticising the Mnangagwa administration.
This latest development comes after reports last week detailed Mavhaire’s declining fortunes following his dismissal as Energy Minister in 2014. He lost his shares in Bikita Minerals, which was sold to the Chinese company Sinomine in 2022, and his trucking company also collapsed.
The ministerial vehicles he retained after leaving government have depreciated significantly, leaving him reliant on a struggling horticultural project at his farm near Great Zimbabwe Monuments.
Sources who accompanied Mavhaire to his recent meeting with President Mnangagwa at State House revealed that the former minister requested a private audience with the President, leading to speculation that he sought financial assistance.
“We went with him (Mavhaire) to meet the President. We were, however, surprised when he suddenly pleaded with the President for a private meeting. We are not sure what he wanted to discuss with the President but we suspect it has to do with his welfare as you can see he is in a sorry state,” one source disclosed.
The controversy surrounding Mavhaire’s return highlights the ongoing internal dynamics within ZANU-PF, raising questions about adherence to party procedures, factionalism, and the motivations behind political realignments.
