President Robert Mugabe on Wednesday called out his party's feuding factions and for the umpteenth time, threatened drastic action against errant members.
Mugabe told a Zanu PF Politburo meeting the growing infighting was damaging the ruling party.
"The president in his opening remarks expressed deep concern at the amount of indiscipline by some members in the provinces,” party spokesperson Rugare Gumbo was quoted as saying.
“He talked about premature campaigning ahead of the Congress by some leaders seeking positions. He said this thing must stop.
"The use of money and vote buying in such campaigns must never be allowed in the party,” Gumbo added.
Mugabe, according to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), also blasted the state-run and Zanu-PF-leaning Herald newspaper for dividing his party.
The meeting also took up the disqualification of former Central Bank chief Gideon Gono by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, from assuming the Buhera senate seat, and ordered the party's legal branch to address the matter, reports said.
Analysts say Mugabe has his work cut out for him closing ranks between the Zanu PF factions allegedly led by Justice Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice President Joyce Mujuru, respectively.
Similar politburo meetings called to extinguish the flames have failed.