Zimbabwe: New Twist as Grace Kwinjeh is Abruptly Removed From Manicaland Post
The crisis in the MDC-T party regarding election candidate imposition, took a twist on Monday when the party’s Chairman for Manicaland, James Magarangoma who blew the whistle on gross electoral irregularities, was interrogated by the party on charges albeit unsustainable.
Magarangoma who last week broke ranks to challenge senior leaders after popular cadre Grace Kwinjeh was shockingly elbowed out after being mysteriously told she had lost the election, was on Monday dragged into a heated interrogation session where he was quizzed on allegations that he had refused to sign nomination papers for councilors who had won primaries.

He was on Monday interrogated by the entire party leadership allegations which have since failed to bring any merit or evidence of truth. Some of the people he was being interrogated on included those from Buhera West where no primary elections were held. Instead they imposed the candidates who include the current MP for the area. It also emerged the leaders wanted Magarangoma to sign papers for those who had either lost the primaries, been suspended or expelled from the party.
There were rumours on social networking website Facebook that Magaramombe had gone into hinding.
But MDC-T organising secretary, Nelson Chamisa rubbished the rumours.
Said Chamisa:
“…He is busy in the constituency campaigning in Manicaland so that we win the election, why will he be in hiding, hiding from who? Perhaps hiding away from ZANU PF, not from the people in MDC.
Chamisa said he had actually been physically with Magaramombe on Tuesday:
“I discussed a lot with and from me it didn’t look like he is in hiding.
“He is actually riding the MDC campaign not hiding,” Chamisa said.
 
Although there have been denials by Minister Chamisa, reports reaching ZimEye have said that Kwinjeh was elbowed out by a faction led by controversial Home Affairs minister Theresa Makone. It also emerged that attempts to soften Kwinjeh by offering her a vacant womens post in Manicaland, have since failed dismally and a battle continues to rage under the wooden desks at Harvest House.
Chamisa revealed that Kwinjeh may now be deployed elsewhere.
“The posts for women [in Manicaland have [already] been taken by [others[,” he said.
He also added that Grace may be deployed elsewhere saying the positions for deployment are many.
“Grace is a senior party leader, she one of our most dedicated leaders…
“Strategic deployment would be done by the leadership of party and it is my full knowledge that Grace takes the priority. She is on the list for deployment somewhere but I am not at liberty to say where. There are many positions for deployment are many,” said Chamisa.
It emerged that Grace Kwinje was initially nominated by the party’s Manicaland province under the proportional representative MPs ticket, but her name was mysteriously removed.
“Grace Kwinje was initially there (on the list), but was taken off mysteriously, and new names put through. All the people that were recommended on that list were just thrown out, no explanation, thus the outcry right now for people in Manicaland,”a party cadre said.