President Mugabe’s home area of Mashonaland West, seen as a stronghold of the ruling party, has been rocked by factionalism as Chegutu MP Webster Shamu and other provincial heavyweights refused to campaign for Zanu PF’s candidate, Stanley Majiri, in last weekend’s mayoral poll.

Shamu, the unofficial political godfather of Chegutu, refused to campaign for his party’s candidate. The Chegutu mayoral poll was won by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change candidate, Francis Blessing Dhlakama. Two factions have emerged in Chegutu - one led by the upstart provincial chairman, Philip Chiyangwa, and the other by Shamu, the ousted chairman. Shamu’s camp reportedly comprises Swithun Mombeshora and Edna Madzongwe, among others.

Nathan Shamuyarira, Ignatius Chombo, Chiyangwa and Paul Mangwana are said to be in the other group. A row erupted over the election of the candidate before the poll with the two camps submitting different names. Sources said the failure by Shamu to effectively campaign for Majiri contributed to the defeat by the MDC. Chiyangwa refused to comment on the latest developments. “You are from the Independent. I am sorry I cannot comment on that,” Chiyangwa said before switching off his mobile phone. Contacted for comment, Shamu would neither confirm nor deny the latest developments.

“You can ask Philip Chiyangwa and his executive, they are running the show,” Shamu said. Political analyst Brian Raftopoulos said the divisions in Chegutu and Masvingo were certain to hinder Mugabe’s presidential election campaign. “I think this is a serious problem in Zanu PF and it is likely to harm Mugabe’s campaign. Chegutu was a Zanu PF stronghold but it has fallen to the opposition MDC. Masvingo is one of the most populated areas in Zimbabwe and if factionalism continues there is likely to be a low turnout or a protest vote for the MDC.

The implications are very serious for the ruling party,” said Raftopoulos. Sources said Shamu and Zvobgo were mulling an alliance and this would further compound Mugabe’s problems ahead of the biggest challenge he has ever faced in his 21 years of unbridled rule. “The two are frustrated by the way Mugabe is treating them. They are now sidelined despite the sterling work they did for Mugabe,” said a source.