FACTIONALISM was evident at yesterday’s nominations of members for the Zanu PF presidium and central committee with at least four provinces failing to reach a consensus on the top four posts.
Tension reached fever pitch in Mashonaland West where there were violent scenes leading to the arrest of at least 12 people.

In Bulawayo there were attempts to block some members of a district co-ordinating committee from participating in the nominations where John Nkomo has emerged as the front-runner for the second vice-presidency.
President Robert Mugabe was nominated unopposed in all provinces, while his deputy Joice Mujuru now has a fight on her hands after Masvingo province nominated women’s league boss Oppah Muchinguri.
Mujuru was unopposed in Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Mashonaland West, Manicaland and Harare.
But the other contenders for the two remaining positions in the presidium had to keep their fingers crossed as there were a few surprises.
The Midlands postponed the nominations to Saturday after some members raised concern that most people at the party’s grassroots structures had not been given a chance to participate.
But it is understood the delay could have been a deliberate way of waiting for indicators from the other provinces.
In Matabeleland North, Mugabe was nominated unopposed but the province failed to agree on the choice for the second VP and national chairman, resulting in the submission of two names for each of the positions.
John Nkomo and Naison Khutshwekhaya Ndlovu’s names were submitted for the VP, while Mines Minister Obert Mpofu and Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to South Africa Simon Khaya Moyo were nominated for the chairmanship.
The province also witnessed one of the many dramatic developments: the nomination of Jonathan Moyo into Central Committee.

The former Minister of Information was dropped by Mugabe during Zanu PF’s 2005 congress after he was nominated by the Tsholotsho following allegations that he had led a revolt against Mujuru’s elevation.
In Matabeleland South, provincial chairman Andrew Langa confirmed they had nominated Nkomo for VP, while Khaya Moyo was nominated for the chairmanship.
Nkomo garnered 69 votes, against Ndlovu’s 41. Khaya Moyo beat Home Affairs co-Minister, Kembo Mohadi and Mpofu.
“Everyone is happy with the outcome of the elections, which we conducted through a secret ballot,” Langa said.
Another surprise was in Masvingo, where Muchinguri trounced Mujuru by 84 votes to 25.

The province nominated Nkomo for the other VP position and Mohadi for the chairmanship.
In other provinces, the process took off late in the afternoon and the meetings were still in progress at the time of going to press.
Officials confirmed they were waiting for the outcome from the Matabeleland provinces, which were initially given the preserve to nominate the VP.
Harare provincial chairman Amos Midzi said they had endorsed Mugabe and Mujuru, but did not finalise the other two presidium positions.
“We are still waiting for indications from the Matabeleland provinces. They will guide our nomination,” Midzi said.
The same happened in Mashonaland West.
“We endorsed President Mugabe and VP Mujuru, but for the other two presidium positions we have to wait for indications from the Matabeleland provinces to maintain the spirit that has always been there,” said Local Government Minister Ignatious Chombo, a politburo member from the province.
Manicaland province endorsed Mugabe, Mujuru and Nkomo and also nominated Didymus Mutasa for the position of chairman.
“All these were nominated unopposed. No one had a different view in Manicaland,” said former legislator Enock Porusingazi.
Zanu PF is divided into three distinct factions led by Mugabe, Defence Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and retired army general Solomon Mujuru and the infighting is set to intensify ahead of next month’s congress where the nominations for both the central committee and the presidium will be endorsed.