

Machacha's claims exposed a flawed system where a national PC could sign blank certificates instead of signing only for those who would have successfully completed the training. This does not mean he is the political commissar," said Machacha. "The material was printed when Rugeje was still the national political commissar and we are just using them as they are.

When contacted for comment, a jittery Machacha told TellZim News that the stationery was printed long back when Rugeje was still the national political commissar. The certificates bear the signatures of Munyaradzi Machacha, in his capacity as Chitepo School of Ideology principal, and Rugeje as national political commissar. I have no further comment in that regard," said Rugeje. "That can be best explained by the principal of Chitepo School of Ideology (Machacha). When TellZim News contacted him for comment, Rugeje could neither confirm nor deny whether he was back at the helm of the commissariat, choosing to refer all the questions to Munyaradzi Machacha who is the principal of Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology. The new developments of Rugeje signing the Chitepo certificates as national PC might be a signal that he bounced back as the head of the commissariat department as Zanu-PF is already preparing for 2023 elections. Matemadanda however, denied the allegations and insisted that he was still the Zanu-PF national PC.

Unconfirmed reports early this year also suggested that Matemadanda was fired from the position of PC and was awaiting reassignment as a diplomat in Mozambique. Rugeje was officially relieved off duty as the national PC in 2019 and was replaced by Matemandada. Rugeje's signature on the certificates is underlined by the caption of ‘Political Commissar'. Confusion continues to reign supreme in Zanu-PF's commissariat department as it is not clear who is the current National Political Commissar (PC) between Victor Matemadanda and Ltd Gen (Rtd) Engelbert Rugeje after the later signed the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology graduates' certificates this week.
