via 3 by-elections loom in Mash East – NewsDay Zimbabwe January 11, 2016
THREE by-elections are looming in Mashonaland East province after the Zanu PF provincial executive last month recommended the expulsion of three party legislators, accusing them of fanning factionalism and being aligned to former Vice-President Joice Mujuru’s faction.
by Jairos Saunyama
Party stalwarts Tendai Makunde (Murewa North), Washington Musvaire (Maramba-Pfungwe) and Felix Tapiwa Mhona (Chikomba Central) were currently waiting for their fate to be decided by the Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko-chaired National Disciplinary Committee (NDC).
A top party official who declined to be named told NewsDay that the three legislators were living on borrowed time and that their fate lay with the party’s NDC.
“The provincial management resolved to fire the three at a meeting held on December 19. They are accused of working with People First, a political project reportedly linked to (former Vice-President Joice) Mujuru. The recommendations were sent to the National Disciplinary Committee, which now has the final decision whether to keep or fire the trio,” the source said.
It is reported that the issue will be dealt with during the next politburo meeting.
Zanu PF Mashonaland East chairperson Joel Biggie Matiza confirmed the looming expulsion of the trio, although he refused to shed more light on the issue.
“Last month, the province recommended the expulsion of three Members of Parliament and we are waiting for the final decision from the National Disciplinary Committee,” Matiza said.
Meanwhile, Zanu PF is set to retain the Mhondoro-Mubaira seat in the March 5 by-elections, following the ousting of former State minister Sylvester Nguni, who was fired from Zanu PF for being Mujuru’s foot soldier.
A number of top Zanu PF party members were booted for plotting with Mujuru to topple President Robert Mugabe.
Mujuru has, however, refutted the allegations and challenged Mugabe to come out clean on the matter.
COMMENTS
Eish. Other by elections? Why are we always in election mode? Where does the money come from? We can’t afford this. Why don’t we just have general election? The party deliberately causing a by election must pay for it. Or better still let the party that won the general elections be bound by the person they presented to the electorate. Why should people suffer for the indiscretion of parties that present wrong candidates? Leave with your choice for five years. Only death could cause a by election and even then the party that won the general elections should pick a replacement. If elections are free, fair and credible there would be no cause for concern. This goes even for internal party processes to choose candidates. We are tired of elections almost every week.