via I’ll not be silenced — Mliswa – DailyNews Live 12 October 2014 by Thelma Chikwanha
HARARE – Temba Mliswa, the Zanu PF Mashonaland West provincial chairperson who was subjected to a failed vote of no confidence by his party last week says the botched coup was a ploy to silence him ahead of the party’s elective congress in December.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily News on Sunday yesterday, Mliswa said he was being harassed and intimidated by top party officials in the province because they knew that he would always tell President Robert Mugabe the truth.
He also said his failed suspension was a manifestation of power struggles in the party ahead of the congress.
Last week, a group of Zanu PF officials led by deputy minister of Home Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi, passed a vote of no confidence in Mliswa accusing him of receiving money from the West and of dividing the party.
But this was immediately shot down by the politburo, whose spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said Mliswa’s ouster was null and void.
The politburo, the supreme governing body of the ruling party, had earlier on decreed that there would be no suspensions within provincial structures until the elective congress in December.
However, the outspoken Member of Parliament for Hurungwe West said what was happening to him should be expected of a big party heading for a massive congress.
“All this will normalise very soon,” Mliswa said confidently.
The legislator, who is said to belong to a faction fronted by Vice President Joice Mujuru, did not believe he was being victimised along factional lines.
“I have been clear on that matter as the chairperson and I can’t belong to a faction. I think those things are very complex and I do not like complex things.
“The best way for me is not to be involved in a faction,” he said.
He believed most of the victimisation he was experiencing was a direct consequence of the professional manner in which he ran the affairs of the province.
“I run the province by the constitution. I’ve created a platform for people to debate issues so much that constitutionally although we are supposed to have three meetings, I have held seven so far.
“I follow the party constitution, I follow the book and when the law is applied to you, you then cry foul,” Mliswa said.
Mliswa said he was one of the most innovative provincial chairpersons in the party, who had brought about development in the province.
“For the first time in the history of Mashonaland West, we do not have a situation where political gurus are fighting. There is a lot of development happening in the province. For instance, last month we collected $20 000 in subscriptions, something that has not happened in a long time,” he said.
The former Warriors fitness trainer, who was recently assaulted by Beauty Zhuwao, wife of president Mugabe’s nephew Patrick, said his ethical conduct had seen some party heavyweights in the province feeling jealousy.
“They are spreading rumours that I will stand up at congress and ask the president to step down. That will not happen and that will not be on my agenda. People are using filthy lies to discredit others at the expense of the truth. I am courageous yes, not stupid. President Mugabe is here to stay,” Mliswa said.
“People have been trying to provoke me, expecting a reaction, but I have been calm. For instance, deputy minister Ziyambi scolded me in a meeting, but I did not react. Even the people that were inciting Beauty to assault me were expecting me to react, but I did not,” he said proudly.
Mliswa added: “People believe I am violent because I was a rugby player, but what they do not know is that the sport teaches discipline because after the game you can sit and eat with the person who tackles you the most.”
He accused Local government minister Ignatius Chombo of instigating the recent vote of no confidence.
“Chombo was at the forefront and phone calls can be traced,” Mliswa said.
Mliswa also said he was ready to go to court concerning the matter of the “gay gangsters”.
The Hurungwe MP is being sued for a total of $40 million after he accused Water minister Savior Kasukuwere and Media minister Jonathan Moyo of being “gay gangsters”.
“I’m ready to go to court, I have enough people who are willing to testify to that effect. I have the evidence,” he said.
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